LEGAL ASSISTANCE
“The protection
of human rights and the dignity of trafficked
persons must be given the highest priority.
The definition of the term – trafficking
– in laws, policies and programmes should
not be restricted to sexual exploitation. It should
be broad enough to cover other identified purposes
without ambiguity, such as bonded or forced labour
and other slavery-like practices. It should use
child and gender sensitive language to signal
that children and women are the ones most vulnerable
to trafficking.
Trafficked persons should not be criminalized
for the involuntary illegality of their entry
or residence in countries of transit and destination,
or for the involuntary activities they perform
as a consequence of their being trafficked.
Victims of trafficking should be provided legal
and other assistance in the course of any criminal,
civil and other actions against traffickers. Governments
should be encouraged to provide temporary or permanent
residence permits, safe shelter and adequate witness
protection during legal proceedings.” |
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These are some of the priorities that the UNITED NATIONS
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS established in a document
signed in Geneva on 10 May 2000.
Legal assistance is fundamental throughout all the various
stages of the social rehabilitation of these people, because:
It enables them to abandon their condition as illegal immigrants.
It informs them about rights that are often entirely lacking
or severely sacrificed in the countries they come from.
It is an indispensable tool to enable them to find their
way around the complex system of regulations in our system.
It plays an important role in mediating between weak subjects
and the institutions.
It is important for teaching the importance of legality.
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