Traffic in women and girls.
| Publisher | UN Commission on Human Rights |
| Author | UN Commission on Human Rights (52nd sess. : 1996 : Geneva) |
| Publication Date | 19 April 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | E/CN.4/RES/1996/24 |
| Reference | 52 |
| Cite as | UN Commission on Human Rights, Traffic in women and girls., 19 April 1996, E/CN.4/RES/1996/24, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3b00f0cf34.html [accessed 23 May 2023] |
Traffic in women and girls
Commission on Human Rights resolution 1996/24
The Commission on Human Rights, Reaffirming the principles set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the International Covenants on Human Rights, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, Recalling that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (A/CONF.157/23), adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993, affirmed the human rights of women and the girl child as an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights, Welcoming the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (A/CONF.171/13), held at Cairo from 5 to 13 September 1994, which, inter alia, called upon all Governments to prevent all international trafficking in migrants, especially for the purpose of prostitution, and for the adoption by Governments of both receiving countries and countries of origin of effective sanctions against those who organize undocumented migration, exploit undocumented migrants or engage in trafficking in undocumented migrants, especially those who engage in any form of international traffic in women and children, Recalling also the recognition by the World Summit for Social Development, held at Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, of the danger to society of the trafficking in women and children, Welcoming also the initiatives taken by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the Ninth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, held at Cairo from 29 April to 10 May 1995, towards criminalizing clandestine traffic in undocumented migrants, Concurring with the conclusion in the Platform for Action (A/CONF.177/20) of the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, held at Beijing from 4 to 15 September 1995, that the effective suppression of trafficking in women and girls for the sex trade is a matter of pressing international concern, Recalling its resolution 1995/25 of 3 March 1995, General Assembly resolution 50/167 of 22 December 1995 and resolutions 39/6 of 29 March 1995 and 40/4 of 22 March 1996 of the Commission on the Status of Women, Acknowledging the work done by intergovernmental organizations, such as the International Organization for Migration, and non-governmental organizations in compiling information on the scale and complexity of the problem of trafficking, in providing shelters for trafficked women and children and in effecting their voluntary repatriation to their countries of origin, Noting with concern the increasing number of women and girl children from developing countries and from some countries with economies in transition who are being victimized by traffickers, and acknowledging that the problem of trafficking also victimizes young boys, Convinced of the need to eliminate all forms of sexual violence and sexual exploitation and trafficking, including for prostitution and other forms of commercial sex, which are violations of the human rights of women and girl children and are incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person, Realizing the urgent need for the adoption of effective measures nationally, regionally and internationally to protect women and girl children from this nefarious traffic,1. Notes with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General on the traffic in women and girls (A/50/369);
2. Calls upon Governments of countries of origin, transit and destination, and regional and international organizations, as appropriate, to implement the Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women by:
(a) Considering the ratification and enforcement of international conventions on trafficking in persons and on slavery;
(b) Taking appropriate measures to address the root factors, including external factors, that encourage trafficking in women and girls for prostitution and other forms of commercialized sex, forced marriages and forced labour in order to eliminate trafficking in women, including by strengthening existing legislation with a view to providing better protection of the rights of women and girls and to punishing the perpetrators, through both criminal and civil measures;
(c) Stepping up cooperation and concerted action by all relevant law enforcement authorities and institutions with a view to dismantling national, regional and international networks in trafficking;
(d) Allocating resources to provide comprehensive programmes designed to heal and rehabilitate into society victims of trafficking, including through job training, legal assistance and confidential health care and taking measures to cooperate with non-governmental organizations to provide for the social, medical and psychological care of the victims of trafficking;
(e) Developing educational and training programmes and policies and considering enacting legislation aimed at preventing sex tourism and trafficking, giving special emphasis to the protection of young women and children;
3. Invites Governments to accord standard minimum humanitarian treatment to trafficked persons, consistent with human rights standards;
4. Invites the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in addressing the obstacles to the realization of the human rights of women, in particular through his contacts with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences and the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, to include the traffic in women and girls among his priority concerns;
5. Encourages the Centre for Human Rights to include the issue of traffic in women and girls in its programme of work under its advisory, training and information activities, with a view to providing assistance to Governments, upon their request, in instituting preventive measures against trafficking through education and appropriate information campaigns;
6. Requests the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities to encourage its Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery to continue to address the issue of the traffic in women and girls under its draft programme of action on the traffic in persons and the exploitation of the prostitution of others;
7. Invites relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to provide advisory services to Governments, upon their request, in planning and setting up rehabilitation programmes for victims of trafficking and in training, particularly human rights training for personnel who will be directly involved in the implementation of these programmes;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Commission, at its fifty-third session, with his report to the General Assembly at its fifty-first session on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 50/167 ;
9. Decides to continue its consideration of the question at its fifty-third session under the relevant agenda item.
51st meeting 19 April 1996 [Adopted without a vote]