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06 September 2000
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Asia-Pacific Seminar of Experts in Preparation for the
World Conference Against Racism: Migration and
Trafficking in Persons with particular Reference to
Women and Children Bangkok
5-7 September, 2000
Message of Mary Robinson
High Commissioner for Human Rights
Distinguish experts, distinguished participants, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
As a new century begins, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all kinds of related intolerance have not gone away. We all constitute one human family. Instead of allowing diversity of race and culture to become a limiting factor in human exchange and development, we must refocus our understanding, discern in such diversity the potential for mutual enrichment, and realize that it is the interchange between great traditions of human spirituality that offers the best prospect for the persistence of the human spirit itself. For too long such diversity has been treated as threat rather than gift. And too often that threat has been expressed in racial contempt and conflict, in exclusion, discrimination and intolerance.
In our preparations for the United Nations World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance we must aim to ensure full recognition of the dignity and equality of all, and full respect for their human rights. We must pledge ourselves to seek a conversion of mind and heart. We must envisage for every man, woman and child a life where the exercise of individual gifts and personal rights is affirmed by the dynamic solidarity of our membership of one human family.
As Secretary-General of the World Conference I believe that we must listen to the voices of the victims so as to devise new approaches and strategies for bringing urgent relief to those who are suffering the pangs of discrimination and inequality. This is why I have dedicated a series of regional and sub-regional seminars to themes that seek to shed light on particular groups of the population who are hurting grievously and for whom relief is urgent.
At a recent seminar for Central and Eastern Europe we discussed the plight of minorities, the fate of the Romas and the scourge of Anti-Semitism. At the Bangkok Seminar we are placing particular focus on Migrants and Trafficking in Persons, with Particular Reference to Women and Children. At a seminar to be held in October in the African Region we shall be focusing on conflict prevention, with particular regard to ethnic conflicts. At another seminar to be held in Latin America and the Caribbean we shall be placing under scrutiny the fate of indigenous populations and Afro-Latin Americans. Earlier seminars have discussed the importance of avenues of recourse and remedies for victims of discrimination. Of course, the choice of particular topics as the focus at a seminar does not preclude wider issues related to the World Conference from being raised.
Through these expert seminars we hope to have a better understanding of discrimination and degradation being experienced by different population groups. This is a process that will continue up to the World Conference. The findings and recommendations of the seminar, and related meetings and conferences in various parts of the world, will help in the drafting of the declaration and programme of action to be placed before the World Conference.
The theme selected for your seminar is AMigration and Trafficking in Persons with particular Reference to Women and Children@. The Asia-Pacific region and other parts of the world have witnessed the increasing incidence of migration and trafficking within and outside countries as well as within and outside the region. Migration and trafficking have posed major human rights concerns for the region.
Hundreds of thousands of people leave their place of residence in search of better living conditions. There is a constant flow of people from rural to urban, and from poorer countries to richer countries. However, many of these people face systemic discrimination or are being victimised by transnational organised crime networks.
I am particularly concerned at the harsh treatment meted towards the children and the families of migrants, the incidence of fear and dislike of foreigners reflected in both the private and public sectors, and the treatment of trafficked persons as criminals for their irregular residence over which they have no control. Such practices are of grave concern when they become institutionalised and reflect through the actions of the law enforcement officials or the judiciary.
The entry into force of the International Convention on the Human Rights of Migrant Workers would be a major step forward in the efforts of the international community to protect migrants. I make a strong appeal to governments in a position to do so to ratify the Convention as soon as possible so that its protective regime can be brought to bear upon the millions of migrant workers in different parts of the world.
For victims of trafficking the problems can be even more acute. A trafficked person generally finds herself or himself in a most precarious position. She/he may have entered a country without proper documents, or the documents might have been confiscated, or destroyed by the trafficker. The trafficked person is further forced to carry out activities which are often degrading (prostitution, pornography, forced labour, sweatshops). Such persons have a constant fear of deportation or penalisation. Many times the victims of trafficking do not complain or seek help in cases of violations or exploitation at the hands of the traffickers due to fear.
Sometimes large number of women, children and men who are the victims of trafficking belong to particular ethnic or religious groups, national minorities, or belong to particular faiths, descent or occupation. Every year hundreds of thousands of women, children and men are tricked, sold, forced or coerced into situations of exploitation from which they cannot escape. Women and children are the most vulnerable to trafficking. They are treated as commodities in transnational industry which generates billions of dollars and operates for the most part with impunity.
Trafficking in persons manifests itself in debt bondage, forced labour, domestic services, sham marriages, prostitution, pornography, and irregular migration. Migrants in an irregular situation are in a particularly difficult position. People whose colour, physical appearance, dress, accent, religion are different from those of the majority in the host country, are often subjected to physical violence and other violations of their rights, independently of their legal status.
These practices become doubly exploitative when the irregular migrants or the trafficked persons belong to a particular race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin.
The problem of trafficking is world-wide and growing. It is estimated that between 300,000 and 600,000 women are smuggled each year into the European Union and certain Central European countries. The problem is widespread in Africa and Latin America.
Human trafficking is a violation on its own but it can include violations of a whole range of human rights. It is often the result of widespread poverty, discrimination, and social exclusion which ruin the lives and destroy the choices of many of the world=s women, children and men.
For all these reasons, trafficking and the problems often associated with migration are subjects very much deserving of attention as we prepare for the World Conference against Racism. It is my hope that your seminar will help shed light on some specific questions:
(a) What are the dimensions of migration and trafficking in the region?
(b) What issues pertaining to migration and trafficking should engage the attention of the World Conference?
(c) How can the international community promote policies and attitudes that would encourage respect for the dignity of migrants and stamp out the pernicious practice of trafficking?
(d) What special measures need to be taken to bring urgent relief to women and children in these situations?
(e) What concrete recommendations would you wish to be considered by the World Conference?
(f) How to tackle the double exploitation of trafficking in persons belonging to a particular race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin?
It is my hope that your seminar will come up with effective and practical policy recommendations. The victims of discrimination count on you. So do I.
I wish you a productive seminar
World Conference Against Racism: Migration and
Trafficking in Persons with particular Reference to
Women and Children Bangkok
5-7 September, 2000
Message of Mary Robinson
High Commissioner for Human Rights
Distinguish experts, distinguished participants, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
As a new century begins, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all kinds of related intolerance have not gone away. We all constitute one human family. Instead of allowing diversity of race and culture to become a limiting factor in human exchange and development, we must refocus our understanding, discern in such diversity the potential for mutual enrichment, and realize that it is the interchange between great traditions of human spirituality that offers the best prospect for the persistence of the human spirit itself. For too long such diversity has been treated as threat rather than gift. And too often that threat has been expressed in racial contempt and conflict, in exclusion, discrimination and intolerance.
In our preparations for the United Nations World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance we must aim to ensure full recognition of the dignity and equality of all, and full respect for their human rights. We must pledge ourselves to seek a conversion of mind and heart. We must envisage for every man, woman and child a life where the exercise of individual gifts and personal rights is affirmed by the dynamic solidarity of our membership of one human family.
As Secretary-General of the World Conference I believe that we must listen to the voices of the victims so as to devise new approaches and strategies for bringing urgent relief to those who are suffering the pangs of discrimination and inequality. This is why I have dedicated a series of regional and sub-regional seminars to themes that seek to shed light on particular groups of the population who are hurting grievously and for whom relief is urgent.
At a recent seminar for Central and Eastern Europe we discussed the plight of minorities, the fate of the Romas and the scourge of Anti-Semitism. At the Bangkok Seminar we are placing particular focus on Migrants and Trafficking in Persons, with Particular Reference to Women and Children. At a seminar to be held in October in the African Region we shall be focusing on conflict prevention, with particular regard to ethnic conflicts. At another seminar to be held in Latin America and the Caribbean we shall be placing under scrutiny the fate of indigenous populations and Afro-Latin Americans. Earlier seminars have discussed the importance of avenues of recourse and remedies for victims of discrimination. Of course, the choice of particular topics as the focus at a seminar does not preclude wider issues related to the World Conference from being raised.
Through these expert seminars we hope to have a better understanding of discrimination and degradation being experienced by different population groups. This is a process that will continue up to the World Conference. The findings and recommendations of the seminar, and related meetings and conferences in various parts of the world, will help in the drafting of the declaration and programme of action to be placed before the World Conference.
The theme selected for your seminar is AMigration and Trafficking in Persons with particular Reference to Women and Children@. The Asia-Pacific region and other parts of the world have witnessed the increasing incidence of migration and trafficking within and outside countries as well as within and outside the region. Migration and trafficking have posed major human rights concerns for the region.
Hundreds of thousands of people leave their place of residence in search of better living conditions. There is a constant flow of people from rural to urban, and from poorer countries to richer countries. However, many of these people face systemic discrimination or are being victimised by transnational organised crime networks.
I am particularly concerned at the harsh treatment meted towards the children and the families of migrants, the incidence of fear and dislike of foreigners reflected in both the private and public sectors, and the treatment of trafficked persons as criminals for their irregular residence over which they have no control. Such practices are of grave concern when they become institutionalised and reflect through the actions of the law enforcement officials or the judiciary.
The entry into force of the International Convention on the Human Rights of Migrant Workers would be a major step forward in the efforts of the international community to protect migrants. I make a strong appeal to governments in a position to do so to ratify the Convention as soon as possible so that its protective regime can be brought to bear upon the millions of migrant workers in different parts of the world.
For victims of trafficking the problems can be even more acute. A trafficked person generally finds herself or himself in a most precarious position. She/he may have entered a country without proper documents, or the documents might have been confiscated, or destroyed by the trafficker. The trafficked person is further forced to carry out activities which are often degrading (prostitution, pornography, forced labour, sweatshops). Such persons have a constant fear of deportation or penalisation. Many times the victims of trafficking do not complain or seek help in cases of violations or exploitation at the hands of the traffickers due to fear.
Sometimes large number of women, children and men who are the victims of trafficking belong to particular ethnic or religious groups, national minorities, or belong to particular faiths, descent or occupation. Every year hundreds of thousands of women, children and men are tricked, sold, forced or coerced into situations of exploitation from which they cannot escape. Women and children are the most vulnerable to trafficking. They are treated as commodities in transnational industry which generates billions of dollars and operates for the most part with impunity.
Trafficking in persons manifests itself in debt bondage, forced labour, domestic services, sham marriages, prostitution, pornography, and irregular migration. Migrants in an irregular situation are in a particularly difficult position. People whose colour, physical appearance, dress, accent, religion are different from those of the majority in the host country, are often subjected to physical violence and other violations of their rights, independently of their legal status.
These practices become doubly exploitative when the irregular migrants or the trafficked persons belong to a particular race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin.
The problem of trafficking is world-wide and growing. It is estimated that between 300,000 and 600,000 women are smuggled each year into the European Union and certain Central European countries. The problem is widespread in Africa and Latin America.
Human trafficking is a violation on its own but it can include violations of a whole range of human rights. It is often the result of widespread poverty, discrimination, and social exclusion which ruin the lives and destroy the choices of many of the world=s women, children and men.
For all these reasons, trafficking and the problems often associated with migration are subjects very much deserving of attention as we prepare for the World Conference against Racism. It is my hope that your seminar will help shed light on some specific questions:
(a) What are the dimensions of migration and trafficking in the region?
(b) What issues pertaining to migration and trafficking should engage the attention of the World Conference?
(c) How can the international community promote policies and attitudes that would encourage respect for the dignity of migrants and stamp out the pernicious practice of trafficking?
(d) What special measures need to be taken to bring urgent relief to women and children in these situations?
(e) What concrete recommendations would you wish to be considered by the World Conference?
(f) How to tackle the double exploitation of trafficking in persons belonging to a particular race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin?
It is my hope that your seminar will come up with effective and practical policy recommendations. The victims of discrimination count on you. So do I.
I wish you a productive seminar