Violated Human Rights in the Context of Human Trafficking

The first fundamental human right recognized by international law was ‘freedom from slavery’. This global acknowledgement occurred in 1807 with the abolition of transatlantic slavery, and was further entrenched in 1948 when the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights”.

So why, after over half a century later, does a global network of human trafficking and slavery still flourish in numerous forms and manifestations?  It is clear that the horrific trade of human beings functions in stark violation of Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but how many other articles of this declaration does trafficking defy?

Here is a list of International Human Rights that are violated in the cases of Human trafficking, and you can add it further by including the laws of your own country.

Human Rights Violated in the Context of Human Trafficking	Corresponding International Legal Instruments and Articles
Right to Health and Social services	·         Articles 22 and 25(1) of the universal declaration of human rights(UDHR) ·         Article 12 of the international covenant on economic social and cultural rights(ICESCR) ·         Article 24 of the convention of the rights of the child(CRC) ·         Article 12 of the convention of the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women(CEDAW) ·         Article 5(e) (liv) of the international convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination (ICERD)
Right to Education and Training	·         Articles 26 of the universal declaration of human rights(UDHR) ·         Articles 13 of the international covenant on civil and political rights( ICCPR) ·         Articles 28 29 of the convention on the rights of the child(CRC) ·         Article 10 of the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women(CEDAW ·         Unesco convention against discrimination in education
Right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose one’s residence	·         Article 13(1) of the universal declaration of human Rights (UDHR) ·         Article 12(1) of the international covenant on civil and political rights(ICCPR)
Right to decent work	·         Article 23 of the Universal declaration of Human rights(UDHR) ·         Article 8(3) of the international covenant on civil and political rights(ICCPR) ·         ILO convention 29 ·         Article 23(1) of the Universal declaration of Human Rights(UDHR) ·         Article 7 of the international covenant on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women(CEDAW)
Right to Freedom from slavery	·         Article 4 of the universal declaration of Human rights(UDHR) ·         Article 8 of the international covenant on civil and Political rights(ICCPR) ·         United Nations Slavery Convention Supplementary Convention on the abolition of slavery, the slave trade and institutions and practices similar to slavery
Right not to be tortured and/or submitted to other cruel, inhuman or degrading Treatment and Punishment	·         Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(UDHR) ·         Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights(ICCPR) ·         Convention against torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Right to Peace and Security	·         Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(UDHR)
Right to Non-discrimination	·         Article 1,2 and 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(UDHR)
Rights to Access to Justice	·         Article 6 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights(UDHR)
Right to Freedom of Expression and Participation	·         Articles 19 and 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(UDHR)

[Compiled from policy paper no. 142 –Human Trafficking in Nigeria – root causes and recommendations, and adapted from human rights standards for the treatment of trafficked persons published by the global alliance against trafficking in women (GAATW)]