Cooperation models and monitoring mechanisms to fight trafficking in human beings

Cooperation between law enforcement and social service providers in Germany

Helga Gayer

Helsinki, 19.03.14

19.03.20142 Cooperation between law enforcement and social service providers in Germany

Recommendations

1 Successful cooperation between counselling services and the police is an important instrument for supporting victims and for conducting criminal proceedings in the field of trafficking in human beings. A jointly drafted cooperation concept provides a stable basis for sustained, successful collaboration.

The inclusion of other actors (e.g. trade unions, labour inspectors and tax authorities) could be useful, especially in the field of human trafficking for labour exploitation.

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Recommendations

2. Accommodation facilities for victims of human trafficking are a key factor for a successful and sustained assistance of victims. In this context, men, children, families and transgender people as well as larger groups of victims pose a particular challenge.

3. Adequate financial support granted until the end of criminal proceedings and the offer of useful activities are an important basis for the witnessing victims’ stay. In hardship cases, it would also be desirable to have even longer-term support options.

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Cooperation Concept

1999 first concept for cooperation between couselling services and the police for the protection of witnessing victims

2006 revision due to factual and legal changes

The present concept is a recommendation of the Federation-State Working Group on Trafficking in Women and is to serve as a basis for the individual German Länder (federal states) to develop their own concepts or to revise existing ones.

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Aims and purposes

It is the aim of this cooperation concept to contribute to the adequate protection of, and help for, the potential victims/witnesses of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and, thus, to a much more efficient fight against this crime phenomenon.

The implementation of cooperation concepts requires handling of the criminal offence by particularly specialized, qualified and sensitized police officers in specialized departments as well as reliable human and logistical resources within the police and a nationwide establishment and permanent financing of the counselling services.

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Description of the problems

Controlled Crime

Difficulties to recognize cases of trafficking in human beings

The victims often are not willing or not able to give evidence

Importance of personal evidence

Police need the support of the counselling services for handling the victim

Councelling services need the police for protection of the victim and for persuing the perpetrators

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Role of the police

Public order and crime control measures in redlight-districts and investigations in THB cases

Inform the potential victim about the possibility of receiving support from an independent counselling service

Hand out multilingual information material from the couselling service

Establish contact with the counselling service

The police carry out the necessary measures for protecting the victim before, during and after the crime scene inspections, interviews and court hearings

Support the counselling services in security issues with regard to the return of the victims to their countries of origin

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Role of the SpecialisedCounselling Units

Secure, secluded accommodation for the victim

Provisioning with food, clothing, and hygiene items

Psychological care within the context of victim-protection

Social and medical support and care

Help with alternative livelihood

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Role of theSpecialised Counselling Units

Accompanying the victim during the criminal procedure

Rehabilitation and prevention

Multi-lingual teams provide counselling on:- Health issues- Workers rights- Right of residence- Coming out of prostitution- Assistance in returning to the home country- Taxes

19.03.201410 Cooperation between law enforcement and social service providers in GermanyDecember 201010 Cooperation between Specialised Counselling Centres and the Police

Activist Coordination Group Combating Trafficking in Women and Violence Against Women in Process of Migration e.V.

The is a non-profit association, which brings 38 member organisations today under its aegis – e.g., women’s organisations, women’s counselling centres, women’s homes, etc.

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The Concept of Cooperation between the Specialised Counselling Units and the Police

Cooperation between NGOs and the police is regulated along the lines of this concept

In this cooperation it is vital that each of the partners respects the other and recognizes their role

The first joint seminar in the year 2000 and re-convention in the year 2010: positive experience in strengthening the cooperation

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Forms of Cooperation

Female counsellors may participate in police checks and raids in the redlight district

Where this does not appear to be useful, it is important to inform the couselling services at an early stage so that they can get prepared.

Regular information exchange on local, regional and federal level

Training (reciprocally)

Research

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Cooperation concept on the internet

English

http://www.eucpn.org/poldocs/DE PT - Policy 3.pdf

Germanhttp://www.bmfsfj.de/RedaktionBMFSFJ/Abteilung4/Pdf-Anlagen/gewalt-kooperationskonzept,property=pdf,bereich=,rwb=true.pdf

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Accomodation, financial support and useful activities

Even the best cooperation does not lead to desired results if there is a lack of important boundary conditions

Accomodation of victims of human trafficking

Minors – behaviour versus rules, need specializedcaregivers, youth offices

Accomodation for male victims – families, transgender people

Accomodation for larger groups of victims

Adequate financial support and useful activities