Our first Joint Statement - with UN Special Rapporteur on Rights of Persons with #Disabilities, Heba Hagrass, Petya Nesterova, Council of Europe Convention on action against trafficking in human beings, and Commissioner Andrea Pochak, Rapporteur on Human Mobility, Inter-American Commission, CIDH_IACHR - highlighting the urgency of ensuring that anti-trafficking measures respect and ensure disability rights. #CRPD
#WorldDayAgainstTrafficking
For persons with disabilities, risks of trafficking may be increased as a consequence of discrimination, exclusion and failures of policy and practice. Ineffective and inaccessible prevention, assistance and protection measures, lead to aggravated risks and failures to vindicate equal rights. We call on all states to ensure that measures to combat trafficking in persons are universally accessible and ensure equal access to justice without discrimination. Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy and agency, including the freedom to make one's own decisions must be ensured in all anti-trafficking measures.
Persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, have the right to reasonable accommodation to guarantee access to all prevention, assistance and protection measures on an equal basis with others. Meaningful participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities must be ensured in the design and implementation of measures to combat trafficking in persons, for all purposes of exploitation.
In situations of conflict, displacement or humanitarian emergency, persons with disabilities may be at heightened risk of exploitation due to lack of accessible and inclusive responses. Girls and women with disabilities may face multiple risks, exclusion, and reduced access to protection and relief efforts.
Addressing the structural causes of trafficking requires urgent action to ensure access for all to education and training, just and fair conditions of work, freedom of movement and choice of residence, and the right to independent living. [..]
Children with disabilities living in institutions, in street situations, refugee, migrant or internally displaced children, are at greater risk, especially when child protection systems are weak, non-inclusive and enforcement of the rights of the child and protection of best interests are limited. Protection of the rights of all children, leaving no child behind, is central to anti-trafficking measures.
The voices of persons with disabilities need be heard. Organisations of persons with disabilities, including those representing women, children, youth and older persons with disabilities, must participate in the design and implementation of measures to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, for all purposes of exploitation, ensuring equal protection of the law and effective access to justice.
Full text at link below.
https://lnkd.in/gZ9YSrQF
