Human trafficking, which is rightly referred to as modern-day slavery, involves the exploitation of people. In fact, human traffickers make recourse to deceit, violence or other means (such as debt bondage) in order to force another person to provide sexual services, work or even to donate organs.
Typical human trafficking cases involve deceit at the first stage, whereby a person is encouraged to travel for employment or other purposes but is then forcibly involved in prostitution or other activities. The activities need not be illegal in themselves, the illegality would lie in the fact that the person is being forced to perform the work in question, often in sub-standard conditions.
A typical human trafficking victim would be denied the possibility to contact his/her family or friends, further to being controlled, either psychologically or by being physically locked up or confined.
Traditionally, human trafficking is associated with the exploitation of women and children. However, on the international scene, men have also fallen victim to this crime, particularly vis-à-vis human trafficking for labour exploitation.
Although Malta has not experienced a significant number of confirmed cases of human trafficking, the government remains vigilant for two reasons. Firstly, even a few cases are cause for concern and, secondly, criminal networks often change and adapt their modus operandi.
A National Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator and a Monitoring Committee were appointed by the Prime Minister last year, which nominations were followed by the adoption of a national action plan, published on my ministry’s website last October 4.
The action plan provides for actions aimed at preventing human trafficking, protecting victims and prosecuting offenders. The scope of this plan is to consolidate procedures and initiatives relating to trafficking in human beings, identify areas of concern requiring action and raise awareness among the public authorities in relation to trafficking cases.
The International Organisation for Migration is assisting in the implementation of the national action plan through the Launching Initiatives Supporting Malta’s Efforts To Suppress Trafficking (LIMES) project. This project caters for training for stakeholders, the establishment of a formalised victim referral mechanism and an awareness campaign.
Action has already been taken with a view to implement the plan, including the convening of the monitoring committee and the establishment of the Stakeholder Task Force at operation level.
Moreover, the police vice squad has been split into three specialised units, one of which deals with prostitution and human trafficking cases. The aim of this reorganisation is to allow for further specialisation, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the police force in the fight against this crime.
My ministry organised a specialised training programme for stakeholders in the sector, including the Office of the Attorney General, the police, Aġenzija Appoġġ, the Employment and Training Corporation, Caritas and the Jesuit Refugee Service, among others, in March 2012.
The relevant sessions were delivered by two experts from IOM Rome with the objective of drawing up a formalised victim referral mechanism. This is an important step towards ensuring that victims of human trafficking are identified as such and that they are referred to the competent authorities with a view to receiving the required assistance and support, be it psychological support, accommodation arrangements or other forms of assistance.
Over the coming months, more action will be undertaken by way of implementation of the national action plan, including the launching of an awareness campaign.
It is particularly essential to ensure that persons potentially vulnerable to human trafficking are made aware of the dangers posed by this crime. It is considered that such a campaign would also be beneficial to the population generally because individuals could be better placed to report suspected cases, further to being more vigilant themselves in relation to the possibility, however unlikely, of being trafficked abroad by deceitful means.
It is however worth noting that the fight against human trafficking did not commence with the adoption of the national action plan last year. In fact, a first training programme for stakeholders in the sector was organised by my ministry in June 2011, which training was delivered by experts from IOM (Washington) and co-financed by the US authorities. Furthermore, Aġenzija Appoġġ held an awareness campaign relating to human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
The police have also been active in the fight against human trafficking. Between 2002 and 2011, over 10 cases of human trafficking were brought before the courts of justice. All cases related to human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation, with the victims being foreign women who had entered the country legally.
Furthermore, relevant amendments to both the Criminal Code and the White Slave Trafficking Ordinance are being proposed in Bill 97, increasing punishment and introducing new ones.
The implementation of the national action plan will, however, ensure that the fight against human trafficking is strengthened, continued and enhanced in terms of strategic direction and effectiveness, particularly via improved cooperation between the different entities involved. The fight against human trafficking remains one of our priorities.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici is Minister for Home and Parliamentary Affairs.