Belgian Policy on Trafficking in and Smuggling of Human Beings: Shadows and Lights
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TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS ANNUAL REPORT Belgian Policy on Trafficking in and Smuggling of Human Beings: Shadows and Lights November 2005 Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism (CEOOR) Trafficking in human beings and economic exploitation 1 How to obtain this publication This report is available in Dutch, French and English. The price is € 5.00 + € 2.73 for postal charges. The publication may be ordered from the Infoshop - the Chancellery of the Prime Minister by making an advance payment into account number CCP 679-2003650-18. by e-mail: [email protected] Please specify: "Report on the trafficking in human beings - November 2005", the language and the number of copies required. The report is also available from the Infoshop - the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, open from Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 4 pm. The Infoshop - the Chancellery of the Prime Minister Boulevard du Régent 54 – 1000 Brussels– Tel: 02/514 08 00 The report may also be consulted on our Internet site: http://www.diversite.be Trafficking in human beings and economic exploitation 2 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................5 I. TRAFFICKING IN AND SMUGGLING OF HUMAN BEINGS: A NEW LAW.................7 1. Trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants: international and European definitions...7 1.1. International.......................................................................................................................................8 1.2. European..........................................................................................................................................10 2. Belgian Law: the Law of 10 August 2005 ...............................................................................................11 2.1. The main themes..............................................................................................................................11 2.2. Details about the new criminal liabilities ........................................................................................12 2.3. Other changes ..................................................................................................................................18 2.4. Parliamentary debates......................................................................................................................19 3. Prospects and challenges .........................................................................................................................21 3.1. A definition of trafficking in human beings inconsistent with international and European instruments ......................................................................................................................21 3.2. The concept of human dignity, a solution for economic exploitation?............................................28 3.3. The right to be able to enjoy the status of a "trafficked person .......................................................34 3.4. The ability of the Centre and reception centres to initiate judicial proceedings..............................36 II. DETECTION, IDENTIFICATION, RECEIPT AND ASSISTANCE ................................39 1. The Belgian model ....................................................................................................................................39 1.1. Procedure.........................................................................................................................................39 1.2. Centres specialised in reception and assistance for trafficked persons............................................41 1.3 Profiles of trafficked persons ..........................................................................................................43 2. The Italian model......................................................................................................................................46 3. The EU model............................................................................................................................................48 4. Expert Group report ...............................................................................................................................49 5. Council of Europe Convention on trafficking in and smuggling of human beings.............................50 6. Comments..................................................................................................................................................52 6.1. Provisions for detecting and identifying victims .............................................................................53 6.2. Reflection period ............................................................................................................................55 6.3. Temporary residence permit ...........................................................................................................55 6.4. Definitive regularisation..................................................................................................................57 III. STRUCTURES FOR COORDINATING AND GATHERING INFORMATION ..............59 1. Belgian coordination structures...............................................................................................................59 1.1. Interdepartmental Unit for the Coordination of Action ...................................................................59 1.2. Coordinating the policy on smuggling and trafficking in human beings.........................................62 Trafficking in human beings and economic exploitation 3 1.3. Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism .............................................................63 2. Intelligence gathering ...............................................................................................................................64 IV. TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS AND ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION ..................67 1. Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................67 1.1. Profiles of trafficked persons ..........................................................................................................68 1.2. Recommendation of the Expert Group: do not lose sight of prevention..........................................70 2. Link between migration and trafficking in human beings....................................................................71 2.1. Smuggling of or trafficking in human beings? ................................................................................71 2.2. Migration and forced labour: more than "Matrioshki" ....................................................................72 2.3. Forced labour: definition and signs .................................................................................................74 3. The informal economy..............................................................................................................................75 3.1. Informal economy and migration: a few situations .........................................................................76 3.2. Growing informal economy and higher demand for migrant workers ............................................76 3.3 The size of the informal economy and the percentage of (illegal) migrants involved.....................78 3.4. The whereabouts of the informal economy in Belgium...................................................................81 3.5. Structural analysis of a few risk sectors and their employment relationships .................................83 3.6. Methods of economically exploiting victims: coercion and control mechanisms ...........................84 3.7. Subcontracting and role of the networks .........................................................................................85 4. Victims: difficult to identify .......................................................................................................................86 5. Combating economic exploitation on the ground .......................................................................................87 V. TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS AND ORGANISED CRIME ...............................91 1. Victims and prosecution policies................................................................................................................93 2. Need for co-operation, specialisation and coordination..............................................................................96 3. Anti-corruption strategies ...........................................................................................................................97 4 Expert Group anti-corruption recommendations ........................................................................................98 5. Corruption in the enlargement countries.....................................................................................................99 6. Corruption and document trafficking........................................................................................................101 7. Need for a financial and money-laundering investigation ........................................................................102 8. Financial investigation and criminal organisation ....................................................................................102 9. A profitable business ................................................................................................................................103