Brasília, Brazil - 10 August 2018 - The Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants ( GLO.ACT) facilitated the 8 th Meeting of the National Committee against Trafficking in Persons (CONATRAP) at the Brazilian National Secretariat of Justice and Citizenship, in Brasilia, Brazil, from 28 to 29 May 2018. CONATRAP's mission is to coordinate the actions of governmental and non-governmental entities in the fight against trafficking in persons (TIP). To date, there are 26 CONATRAP participants representing a broad range of government bodies, councils and civil society.
During the meeting, participants welcomed the newly elected members from civil society. The newly assigned members from civil society are: the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Projeto Resgate (Project Rescue), the Brazilian Association for the Defense of Women, Children, and Youth (ASBRAD), the Institute of Migration and Human Rights (IMDH), the Nucleus of Gender Studies - Pagu of the University of Campinas, the Association of Transexual, Travestis, and Transgendered of Goiás (ASTRAL), Young People with a Mission (JOCUM), and the Center for Support and Pastoral Care of Migrants (CAMI). In addition, participants also focused on sharing and analyzing the proposed objectives of the 3 rd National Action Plan against Trafficking in Persons, discussed the guidelines and approaches for the implementation of the 3rd National Action Plan and how to monitor process.
Mr. Torquato Jardim, Minister of Justice and Mr. Luiz Pontel, National Secretary of Justice both emphasized during their opening speeches the importance the Ministry of Justice places on the up-coming 3 rd National Action Plan. The 3 rd National Action Plan against Trafficking in Persons will be launched on 5 July 2018 and represents the beginning of the third cycle of the national policy to combat TIP.
In 2006, the first National Action Plan to combat TIP was developed. The first National Action Plan foresaw the creation of the State Nucleuses to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Advanced Posts for Humanized Assistance to Migrants. Nucleuses are administrative units with state executive power to develop state policies and plans on TIP. They are also responsible for the referral of victims to governmental services and for providing protection, psychosocial support and assistance in return to the place of origin. In addition, they commission studies, build capacity and raise awareness amongst key stakeholders and the public. Advanced posts were conceived for places experiencing large numbers of transiting migrants such as airports, bus and train stations, and border crossings. They provide immediate assistance to deported migrants, non-admitted persons, and victims of trafficking in persons returning to Brazil and presumed trafficked persons amongst migrants. They play a vital role in identifying, informing and referring TIP victims to the state nucleuses and respective assistance services. Advanced posts also provide information to migrants leaving or arriving in Brazil on their rights and possible risks.
Building on the activities and lessons learned from the first plan, a nationwide process of multi-stakeholder consultations was initiated to develop the second National Action Plan in 2011; a plan was rolled out from 2013 to 2016. An inter-ministerial working group for the formulation of the second plan, including 21 governmental actors, was established and a series of discussions, round-tables and online consultations within and outside of Brazil took place, before the document was finalized. Furthermore, the Tri-party Coordination Body for National Policy on TIP was created to ensure coordination between the three bodies primarily responsible for harmonizing policy on TIP with other existing national instruments. The three parties are the Secretariat of Justice, the Secretariat of Human Rights and the Secretariat of Policies for Women.
The second National Action Plan concluded in December 2016 and there is now an urgent need to consolidate the lessons learned, include additional information available on trends and gaps identified during the past three years. This knowledge will form the basis for the formulation of the third National Action Plan.
The Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT) is a four-year (2015-2019), €11 million joint initiative by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The project is being implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). GLO.ACT aims to provide assistance to governmental authorities and civil society organizations across 13 strategically selected countries: Belarus, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, South Africa, Ukraine. GLO.ACT works with the 13 countries to plan and implement strategic national counter-trafficking and counter smuggling efforts through a prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnerships approach. It supports the development of more effective responses to trafficking and smuggling, including providing assistance to victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants through the strengthening of identification, referral, and direct support mechanisms.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Fernanda Patricia Fuentes Munoz
GLO.ACT National Project Officer
Liaison and Partnership Office in Brazil
Email: fernanda.fuentes@unodc.org
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/glo-act/
Email: glo.act@un.org
Twitter: @glo_act