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RIGHTS in Practice
A report on National Human Rights Institution’s (NHRIs) work to evaluate and monitor state anti-trafficking responses in the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) area
To get a copy of the full report, write to us at gaatw@gaatw.org
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The Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) is an Alliance of more than 90 non-governmental organisations from all regions of the world. The GAATW International Secretariat is based in Bangkok, Thailand, and coordinates the activities of the Alliance, collects and disseminates information, and advocates on behalf of the Alliance at regional and international level. Read more...
RIGHTS! ART! ACTION!
“Vodoo Inverso” winning entry to Rights! Art! Action!
GAATW is pleased to announce “Vodoo Inverso”, submitted by Kay Chernush, as the winning entry to GAATW’s recent art contest, Rights! Art! Action!
“With this picture I reverse the voodoo onto my trafficker. I am not afraid anymore.”
Chernush says: “This image is part of a series of “re-imagings,” inspired by the narratives of survivors of trafficking …. The work is intended to explode the anecdotal into the universal, as in this work, which is about Courage and Hope. Transforming the particular individual experience in a larger context empowers the woman, enabling her to see herself differently….”
Judge, Jackie Pollock (MAP Thailand), says: “The image provides a strong profile of a woman but with dangers lurking in the background; however, despite the evident threats, the woman remains strong, and refuses to be consumed by these dangers.”
The Rights! Art! Action! campaign invited creative works which depict the (often overlooked) strength and resilience women demonstrate through their labour, migration and trafficking struggles.
The campaign responded to GAATW’s concerns that almost without exception, anti-human trafficking campaigns use violent and distressing images of women’s fearful, ‘helpless’ faces and exploited, crouching bodies to draw people’s attention to trafficking, highlighting women’s vulnerability rather than women’s strength and women’s rights.
GAATW was interested in exploring a different way forward, moving beyond images of women’s victimhood and vulnerability, to representations of strength and autonomy – qualities in many trafficked persons GAATW has met and worked with. GAATW sought to encourage a rights-based approach to anti-trafficking campaign material and to encourage others to do the same.
The campaign ran from November 2009 to June 2010 and received many unique and thought-provoking submission (to be posted on the website in August). Submissions were judged on: artistic ability; commitment to the Rights! Art! Action! principles; and, usability in campaigns material.
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Global Conference on Human Trafficking seeks Roadmap for Change
International experts on Human Trafficking meeting in Bangkok today seek to address ‘woefully misguided’ anti-trafficking strategies.While billions of dollars and huge international effort has been expended on combating trafficking, these experts call for more reflection about why efforts are worsening rather than curbing the abuse of trafficked persons.
As Governments worldwide gather in New York to discuss a new ‘Global Plan of Action on Trafficking’[1], the United Nations Expert on Trafficking in Persons[2], who joins the Global Conference, has urged Governments to monitor and evaluate their work without delay.
Ms. Bandana Pattanaik[3], Coordinator of the Global Alliance against Traffic in Women who is convening the Conference, stressed:
“Whist there is now acute awareness that, annually, human trafficking violates millions worldwide; there is next to no awareness that misguided anti-trafficking responses are also resulting in gross human exploitation worldwide.It is imperative that a global review of Government anti-trafficking strategies begins today.”
[1] Discussions are ongoing at the UN General Assembly for the development of a Global Plan of Action to Combat Traffic in Persons, aimed at marking political will to address trafficking, raising awareness on trafficking and coordinating efforts in this area: see http://www.un.org/ga/president/64/issues/humantrafficking.shtml
[3] International Coordinator of the Global Alliance against Traffic in Women - a worldwide network of over 100 anti-trafficking organisations, for more information see: www.gaatw.org
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