GLOBAL MIGRATION GROUP Exploitation and abuse of international migrants, particularly those in an irregular situation A human rights approach Exploitation and abuse of international migrants, particularly those in an irregular situation: a human rights approach THEMATIC PAPER Global Migration Group 2013 Global Migration Group (GMG) The Global Migration Group (GMG) is an inter-agency group bringing together heads of agencies to promote the wider application of all relevant international and regional instruments and norms relating to migration, and to encourage the adoption of more coherent, comprehensive and better coordinated approaches to the issue of international migration. The GMG is particularly concerned with improving the overall effectiveness of its members and other stakeholders in capitalizing upon the opportunities and responding to the challenges presented by international migration. The GMG consists of 16 organizations that are actively involved in international migration and related issues: • International Labour Organization (ILO) • International Organization for Migration (IOM) • Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) • UN Regional Commissions • United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) • United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) • United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) • United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) • United Nations Institute for Training & Research (UNITAR) • United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) • United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) • World Bank • World Health Organization (WHO) © United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, December 2013. All rights reserved, worldwide. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. This publication has not been formally edited. Acknowledgements The present publication was drafted by Marika McAdam (consultant) who was also responsible for conducting the majority of country surveys. It was coordinated by Martin Fowke and Tatiana Balisova of the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section at UNODC. The thematic paper benefitted from the expertise and the contributions of the member agencies of the Global Migration Group, in particular the support and inputs of the following persons: • Beate Andrees, Ryszard Cholewinski (ILO) • Kristina Touzenis, Jonathan Martens (IOM) • Pia Oberoi, Youla Haddadin (OHCHR) • Paul Tacon (ESCWA) • Jason Schachter (UNECE) • Irene de Lorenzo-Cáceres Cantero, Rhea Saab, Susu Thatun (UNICEF) • Liping Zhang (UNCTAD) • Bela Hovy, Sabine Hennings (UN-DESA) • Sarah Rosengaertner, Andree Tzall (UNDP) • Golda El-Khoury (UNESCO) • Jean D’Cunha (UN Women) • Sumbul Rizvi, Sibylle Kapferer (UNHCR) • Yvonne Lodico, Colleen Thouez (UNITAR) • Rahel Gershuni , Silke Albert (UNODC) • Sonia Plaza (World Bank) • Daniel Lopez-Acuna, Helena Nygren Krug (WHO) Thanks also go to Anja Klug, Sue Lemesurier and Anne Gallagher for their valuable comments. The thematic paper was made possible by funding support from the Government of Switzerland through the UNODC Global Programme against Smuggling of Migrants . A human rights response to exploitation of migrants Thematic Paper Exploitation and abuse of international migrants, particularly those in an irregular situation: a human rights approach THEMATIC PAPER Table of Contents Introduction and purpose ...................................................................................... 3 1. Understanding exploitation ................................................................................ 5 1.1. Lack of definition of exploitation ....................................................................................................... 5 1.2. Types of exploitation .............................................................................................................................. 8 1.2.1. Exploitation amounting to criminal offences: Forced labour and trafficking ............ 9 1.2.2. Labour exploitation .............................................................................................................................. 14 1.2.3. Non‐labour exploitation, including sexual exploitation ...................................................... 16 1.2.4. Exploitation during the irregular migration process, including by smugglers ........ 20 1.3. Conceptual challenges in understanding exploitation ........................................................... 23 1.3.1. ‘Degree’ or ‘severity’ of exploitation ............................................................................................. 23 1.3.2. Consent to exploitation ....................................................................................................................... 25 1.4. Vulnerability to exploitation ............................................................................................................. 28 1.4.1. Migrants in irregular situations ..................................................................................................... 29 1.4.2. Refugees and asylum seekers ........................................................................................................... 33 1.4.3. Age (youth, adolescents and children) ......................................................................................... 33 1.4.4. Gender ......................................................................................................................................................... 35 1.5. Consequences of exploitation of migrants in irregular situations .................................... 38 1.5.1. Financial consequences ...................................................................................................................... 38 1.5.2. Social consequences .............................................................................................................................. 40 1.5.3. Human consequences ........................................................................................................................... 41 2. Human rights response to exploitation and abuse of migrants, particularly those in irregular situations ............................................................................................ 43 2.1. A Human Rights based‐approach to migration ......................................................................... 43 2.1.1. International normative framework against exploitation ................................................ 45 2.1.2. Baseline of human rights for migrants in irregular situations ........................................ 47 2.2. Prevention: reducing vulnerability to exploitation ................................................................. 50 2.2.1. Promote development .......................................................................................................................... 50 2.2.2. Prevent irregular migration and promote safe, regular migration .............................. 52 2.2.3. Reduce harm in irregular migration ............................................................................................ 54 2.2.4. Regularization ........................................................................................................................................ 57 2.3. Prevention: reducing opportunities for exploitation ............................................................. 58 2.3.1. Reduce demand for exploitative goods and services ............................................................. 58 2.3.2. Address exploitative norms and traditional and cultural practices .............................. 61 2.3.3. Promote decent work ........................................................................................................................... 63 2.3.4. Monitor and regulate ........................................................................................................................... 65 2.4. Assistance and Protection of exploited migrants..................................................................... 68 2.4.1. Identify exploited migrants ............................................................................................................... 68 2.4.2. Protect exploited migrants from further harm ....................................................................... 70 2.4.3. Assist exploited migrants ................................................................................................................... 72 2.4.4. Non‐criminalization of exploited migrants ............................................................................... 74 1 A human rights response to exploitation of migrants Thematic Paper 2.5. Prosecution and other actions against exploiters ................................................................... 75 2.5.1. Exploited migrants: Right to a remedy ........................................................................................ 75 2.5.2. Exploiters: Right to a fair trial .......................................................................................................