 |
 |
|
 |
 |
Background
Learning objectives
The overall objective is as follows:
‘To create a practical, user friendly, multi-lingual regional manual of law
enforcement best practice in the field of counter-trafficking that is based upon
a commitment to a ‘victim first’ human rights philosophy’
The manual contains three parts; the first part consists of five sections and forms the ‘best
practice’ part of the guide; the second section consists of two sections and forms an ‘easy-
reference’ review of relevant international and national legislation and procedures; part
three consists of a short, country-by-country counter-trafficking briefing and contact
directory of law enforcement and other multi-agency partners.
Scope of the Manual
Human Trafficking or People Smuggling?
This manual deals with the subject of trafficking in human beings and it is vitally important
for the reader to be able to make the distinction between trafficking in human beings and
people smuggling.
Whilst there are many similar components within the two types of crime, the distinction is a
simple one:
Trafficking in human beings differs from people smuggling because the intention of the
trafficker is to exploit the victim after the illegal entry has been accomplished - during the
course of a long term, exploitative and coercive relationship, whereas, in the vast majority
of cases, the smuggler’s relationship with the victim normally concludes once the illegal
entry has been achieved.
Limitations of the Manual
Regional Diversity
The regional diversity of the legislation, procedure and investigative practice on the subject
has meant that the advice has on many occasions had to be limited to broad principles and
general points of ‘best practice’ advice. To attempt to go into more specific detail in some
areas such as specific national procedures or the use of undercover tactics for example,
would run the twin risks of creating potentially dangerous confusion and of producing a
manual that was too large to be user-friendly.
This is why we have introduced the cross references to Legislative Compendium and/or
Contact Directory sections, in order to allow local partners to refer to their own specific
data.