THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL
ShriMUN 2015
Chair: Tanya Rohatgi
Director: Raghav Mathur
Rapporteur:
A message from the Executive Board
Dear delegates,
It is our pleasure to welcome you to the Human Rights Council at Shri
MUN - 2015. We hope that this guide prepared by your Executive Board will
help you to develop a basic understanding of the agendas and will serve as a
starting point for your research. However do note that this guide is not meant
to serve as a source or a framework for your research. Instead, use this guide
to understand the nature of the agendas at hand. Thus do not let this guide
restrict the scope of your research in any way whatsoever. Do remember to
place an emphasis on originality with regard to the solutions you wish to
propose. We look forward to a productive and mutually enriching conference.
This year’s Agenda in the HRC is:
1) Human Trafficking
If any of you have any questions whatsoever, be it about the agenda or the
committee; don’t hesitate to send us an e-mail on the addresses given below.
Warm Regards,
The Executive Board, Human Rights Council, Shri-MUN 2014
Tanya Rohatgi
Chair
Raghav Mathur
Director (rmathur1998@gmail.com)
The United Nations Human Rights
Council
Introduction:
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the
United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion
and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing
situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on
them. It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues
and situations that require its attention throughout the year. It
meets at the UN Office at Geneva.
The Council is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which
are elected by the UN General Assembly. The Human Rights Council
replaced the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
The General Assembly established the UNHRC by adopting a
resolution (A/RES/60/251) on 15 March 2006, in order to replace the
previous CHR, which had been heavily criticized for allowing
countries with poor human rights records to be members.
Structure:
The members of the General Assembly elect the members who
occupy the UNHRC's forty-seven seats. The General Assembly takes
into account the candidate States’ contribution to the promotion and
protection of human rights, as well as their voluntary pledges and
commitments in this regard. The term of each seat is three years,
and no member may occupy a seat for more than two consecutive
terms. The seats are distributed among the UN's regional groups as
follows: 13 for Africa, 13 for Asia, six for Eastern Europe, eight for
Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC), and seven for the
Western European and Others Group (WEOG). The previous CHR had
a membership of 53 elected by the Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC) through a majority of those present and voting.
The General Assembly can suspend the rights and privileges of any
Council member that it decides has persistently committed gross and
systematic violations of human rights during its term of membership.
The suspension process requires a two-thirds majority vote by the
General Assembly. The resolution establishing the UNHRC states that
"members elected to the Council shall uphold the highest standards
in the promotion and protection of human rights."
Sessions:
The UNHRC holds regular sessions three times a year, in March, June
and September. The UNHRC can decide at any time to hold a special
session to address human rights violations and emergencies, at the
request of one third of the member states. To date there have been
19 Special Sessions.
AGENDA: HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Definition:
Article 3, paragraph (a) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and
Punish Trafficking in Persons defines Trafficking in Persons as the
recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of
persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of
coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power
or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of
payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having
control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.
Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the
prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced
labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or
the removal of organs.
Virtually every country in the world is affected by these crimes. The
challenge for all countries, rich and poor, is to target the criminals
who exploit desperate people and to protect and assist victims of
trafficking and smuggled migrants, many of whom endure
unimaginable hardships in their bid for a better life.
Elements of Human Trafficking
On the basis of the definition given in the Trafficking in Persons
Protocol, it is evident that trafficking in persons has three constituent
elements;
The Act (What is done)
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Recruitment
Transportation
Transfer
Harbouring
Receipt of persons
The Means (How it is done)
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Threat
Use of force
Coercion
Abduction
Fraud
Deception
Abuse of power or vulnerability
Giving payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim
The Purpose (Why it is done)
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Prostitution
Other forms of sexual exploitation
Forced labour or services
Slavery
 Practices similar to slavery
 Servitude
 Removal of organs
Criminalization of Human Trafficking
The definition contained in article 3 of the Trafficking in Persons
Protocol is meant to provide consistency and consensus around the
world on the phenomenon of trafficking in persons. Article 5
therefore requires that the conduct set out in article 3 be
criminalized in domestic legislation. Domestic legislation does not
need to follow the language of the Trafficking in Persons Protocol
precisely, but should be adapted in accordance with domestic legal
systems to give effect to the concepts contained in the Protocol.
In addition to the criminalization of trafficking, the Trafficking in
Persons Protocol requires criminalization also of:
· Attempts to commit a trafficking offence
· Participation as an accomplice in such an offence
· Organizing or directing others to commit trafficking.
National legislation should adopt the broad definition of trafficking
prescribed in the Protocol. The legislative definition should be
dynamic and flexible so as to empower the legislative framework to
respond effectively to trafficking which:
· Occurs both across borders and within a country (not just crossborder)
· Is for a range of exploitative purposes (not just sexual exploitation)
· Victimizes children, women and men (Not just women, or adults,
but also men and children)
· Takes place with or without the involvement of organized crime
groups.
Is There A Legal Instrument To Tackle Human Trafficking?
The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons,
especially Women and Children, was adopted by the United Nations
General Assembly in 2000 and entered into force on 25 December
2003.
The Trafficking Protocol, which supplements the United Nations
Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, is the only
international legal instrument addressing human trafficking as a
crime and falls under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The purposes of the Trafficking Protocol are:
 To prevent and combat trafficking in persons
 To protect and assist victims of trafficking, and
 To promote cooperation among States Parties in order to meet
these objectives.
The Trafficking Protocol advances international law by providing, for
the first time, a working definition of trafficking in persons and
requires ratifying States to criminalize such practices.
Global Report on Human Trafficking:
In 2010, just a few months short of the tenth anniversary of the
adoption of the Trafficking in Persons Protocol, Member States
renewed their commitment to the fight against trafficking in persons
by adopting the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat
Trafficking in Persons (contained in General Assembly resolution
64/293). In the framework of the Global Plan of Action, the General
Assembly mandated UNODC to collect information and publish a
Global Report on Trafficking in Persons every two years.
The UNODC Global Report 2014 is the second of its kind mandated
by the General Assembly. It covers 128 countries and provides an
overview of patterns and flows of trafficking in persons at global,
regional and national levels, based on trafficking cases detected
between 2010 and 2012 (or more recent). The Global Report 2014
highlights the role of organized crime in trafficking in persons, and
includes an analytical chapter on how traffickers operate. The
worldwide response to trafficking in persons is also a focus of this
edition of the Global Report.
Trafficking in persons is a truly global phenomenon: between 2010
and 2012, victims from at least 153 countries were detected in 124
countries worldwide. A great majority of the victims detected are
females, although men and boys are also trafficked in significant
numbers. Women and girls are not only trafficked for sexual
exploitation, but also for forced labour and for other purposes. The
percentage of children among victims is increasing and children now
comprise nearly one third of all detected trafficking victims in the
world.
Many countries have recently passed legislation criminalizing
trafficking in persons as a specific offence. However, definitions of
human trafficking vary, as does the capacity to identify offenders and
victims. The overall criminal justice response to trafficking in persons,
which has historically been very weak, has not improved.
The Country Profiles of the Global Report present a national level
analysis for each of the 128 countries covered by this edition of the
report:

http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and
analysis/glotip/GLOTIP_2014_full_report.pdf
Human Trafficking Hubs:
Although human trafficking is a problem which affects countries all
around the globe, there are areas in recent times which have gained
much attention from the media for being popular victims of human
trafficking.
United States:
In the United States, there has been a correlation between big
sporting events, such as the Superbowl, and Human Trafficking.
Nevada and specifically Las Vegas has also been a victim of Human
Trafficking in recent times.
Mexico:
Mexico is a country of origin, transit and destination for trafficking
victims. However, a large number of Mexican boys and girls are
trafficked within Mexico for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
These victims are often lured from poor rural districts to urban and
tourist districts. According to a recent report by ECPAT, Mexico has
become the major sex tourism destination in the Americas. More
than 16,000 children are estimated to be involved in the sex industry
in the country’s popular tourist destinations of Acapulco, Cancun,
Guadalajara and Tijuana.
The Caribbean:
Human trafficking is a major issue facing the Caribbean region. For
example, in Haiti, an estimated 250,000 children—80% of whom are
girls—have been subjected to a system of domestic slavery termed
“restavèk” (a Creole word which means to “one who stays with”). As
a consequence of the catastrophic earthquake in January, the
number of persons who have been left vulnerable to exploitation has
increased dramatically. Experts fear that the increase in children
alone, whether separated from their families, or new orphans, or
restavèks, who are now wandering the streets, will be absorbed by a
culture that has looked on child servitude and child slavery as a
normal part of life.
Brazil:
Brazil has one of the worst child sex trafficking problems in the
world. It also has a thriving sex tourism industry, with sex trafficking
of Brazilian women occurring in every state and federal district of the
country. Foreign tourists from Germany, Italy, and other European
states increasingly come to Brazil for sex tourism. The age of consent
in Brazil is 18; however, according to UN estimates “2 million young
people under the age of 18 have been trafficked into prostitution.”
Germany and Netherlands:
Some experts raise concerns that the legalization of prostitution is
directly linked to the legitimization of commercial sex trafficking.
They argue that the aggregate impact of legalization over the years
in countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, and other
countries has been to create major hubs of demand for trafficked
women and children.
Israel:
At the start of the new century, Israel found itself with an
unexpected and unwanted reputation – as a destination hotspot for
sex trafficking. In 2006, the United Nations named Israel as one of
the world’s primary destinations for trafficked women.
Middle Eastern and Gulf States:
The commercial sex industry has in the past flourished in the Middle
East. Most notably, underground prostitution rings are a problem
throughout the region. Many of the Gulf States, including the United
Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon are
significant hubs of demand. UAE has in the past been dubbed the
“Centre for Prostitution in the Middle East”
India:
Women and girls are trafficked both within India and into India from
Nepal and Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries. Huge red
light districts holding thousands of women and children operate
brothels offering girls as young as 9 and 10 for sale. Kamathipura in
Mumbai, Sonagachi in Calcutta, Reshampura in Gwalior and Budhwar
Peth in Pune all hold thousands of women, many of them in virtual
captivity.
China:
China’s one child policy has created severe gender imbalances where
boys outnumber girls by a significant margin. Because of a longstanding preference for sons, parents have actively engaged in
gender based selective abortions/feticide, abandonment, and
infanticide. Consequently, many millions of girls are missing and
experts estimate that in this generation alone, over 37 million men
will not find partners. Experts fear that this will generate a demand
for trafficked women and girls — demand that will be met from
countries like North Korea, Vietnam, Myanmar, Mongolia, Thailand
and elsewhere.
Cambodia:
The Cambodian economy relies heavily on the tourist industry. This
lush tropical land with its beautiful beaches and ancient temples
attracts many vacationers. Tourism is good and legitimate tourism
needs to be encouraged. Unfortunately, there is dark underbelly
which has flourished over the last twenty years: child sex tourism.
Cambodia has come to be known for its thriving sex industry, where
child sexual exploitation runs rife, and authorities are easily bribed to
look the other way; thus, predators and child traffickers alike act
with impunity. Today many NGOs and FBOs are working with
Cambodian law enforcement officials to turn this situation around,
but to date, Cambodia is still a major hub of demand for commercial
child sexual exploitation.
These are just some of the many hotspots where instances of sexual
trafficking have resurfaced over the years. You are recommended to
go beyond these few countries, as well research more extensively on
them. In committee, you will be expected to address issues in
countries in the list as well as out of it.
Organisations Combating Human Trafficking:
Trafficking Policy and Advocacy: Polaris Project
Second-Generation Trafficking: Prajwala
Statelessness and Child Trafficking: COSA
Trafficking of Men and Young Boys: Urban Light
International Sporting Events: Student World Assembly’s Red Card
Project
Child Labour: GoodWeave
The Issue of Choice: The Empower Foundation
AIM OF AGENDA:
This committee wishes to see the following aspects of the agenda
discussed in the meeting:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
The History of Human Trafficking
Areas Most Adversely Affected by Human Trafficking
Causes of Human Trafficking
Global Laws Regarding Human Trafficking
Domestic Laws Regarding Human Trafficking
Issue of Human Trafficking in Different Areas
Causes of Human Trafficking in Different Areas
8) Prevention of Human Trafficking
9) Penalisation of Defaulters
10)
Provision of Aid to Victims of Human Trafficking
11)
Awareness and Knowledge of Human Trafficking
SUGGESTED READING:
The following websites include information on Human Trafficking
and its various aspects. You can use them, but do not restrict
yourself to them and this background guide and make attempts to
gain as much information on the agenda as possible from recognized
and accepted websites:
1) http://www.unicef.org/
2) http://www.reuters.com/
3) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/index.html
4) http://www.unodc.org/unodc/human-trafficking/
5) http://www.amnesty.org.uk/tags/trafficking
6) http://www.unhcr.org/4ae1a1099.html
7) https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/224393.pdf
Questions to aid your Research:
1) What are some of the most popular places in the world for
Human Trafficking?
2) Why are some countries most susceptible to Human Trafficking
than others?
3) What has been done to solve the problem in various regions?
4) How can the problem be solved further?
5) What are the legal viewpoints on Human Trafficking in various
countries?
6) How has the UN worked on the Issue and where?
7) What are the causes of Human Trafficking both generally and
specific to certain regions.
The committee aims to seek a cohesive solution to this
controversial issue that threatens the basic human rights of people
around the world. The committee hopes to see nations working
together to understand and then find solutions to this problem.
http://www.globalcenturion.org/articles/articles-by-laura-jlederer-j-d-%EF%BB%BF/demand-hub-sex-trafficking/
http://www.ungift.org/knowledgehub/en/about/world.html
https://www.polarisproject.org/media-center/news-andpress/press-releases/915-report-spotlights-human-traffickingtrends-in-the-us
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/global-reporton-trafficking-in-persons.html
http://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/pages/hrcindex.aspx
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