Dhaka, Bangladesh, 28 February 2024 – Several courts in Bangladesh have reported thousands of trafficking in persons cases. However, the First National Study on Trafficking in Persons in Bangladesh reveals that the number of successfully investigated and prosecuted cases leading to convictions has been limited.
Sentencing guidelines play a crucial role to support the judiciary to provide a uniform response to Trafficking in Persons (TIP) by crafting appropriate sentences which convey the extent of harm caused to victims. On 28 February 2024 UNODC, under the framework of Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT-Bangladesh), submitted the draft Sentencing Guideline on Countering Trafficking in Persons to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
During the 'Specialized Trafficking in Persons Workshop with Judges on International and Domestic Legal Framework and Issues Arising in Practice' held from 13 to 15 March 2022, the UK's sentencing guideline for TIP cases was shared with facilitating judges. This sharing was appreciated by the judges of the Anti-Human Trafficking Offence Tribunals of Bangladesh. Furthermore, participants recommended developing similar guidelines tailored to the context of Bangladesh.
After Lori Mann, UNODC consultant, provided a brief overview of the draft sentencing guideline, Jee Aei Lee, UNODC Legal and Policy Officer, explained, “The draft sentencing guideline on countering TIP is developed in accordance with the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012, and will serve as a guideline for judges to ensure uniformity of justice.”
The draft sentencing guideline was appreciated by Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary of the Law and Justice Division, Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs. He expressed eagerness to revise and finalize the sentencing guideline for countering TIP cases in collaboration with UNODC. It was also recommended that, after finalization, the sentencing guideline should be translated into Bangla.
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The Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants - Bangladesh (GLO.ACT - Bangladesh) is a joint initiative by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) being implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). GLO.ACT-Bangladesh builds on a global community of practice set in motion in GLO.ACT 2015-2019 in 13 partner countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.
Through targeted, innovative and demand-driven interventions, the GLO.ACT aims to support the Government of Bangladesh and civil society organizations to more effectively fight the crimes of human trafficking and migrant smuggling across the country. The project works on developing evidence-based information on trafficking and smuggling patterns and trends, legislative review and harmonization, capability development of criminal justice actors, and international cooperation. The project also provides direct assistance to victims of human trafficking and migrants in vulnerable situations through the strengthening of identification, referral, and protection mechanisms. The project is fully committed to mainstreaming Human Rights and Gender Equality considerations across all of its activities.
This project is funded by the European Union.
For more information about GLO.ACT-Bangladesh, please contact:
Mahdy Hassan, National Programme Coordinator
unodc-glo.act@un.org
GLO.ACT Bangladesh
X: @glo_act