People Trafficking: An International Crisis Fought at the Local Level
Prepared by Susan Coppedge | July 2006 with funding from the sponsors
of the Ian Axford New Zealand Fellowships in Public Policy
Susan Coppedge, an Assistant US Attorney from
Atlanta, Georgia, is on the front-line in putting Federal criminal
laws to use and developing a practical awareness of problems that
law enforcement agencies face in applying the law. She prosecutes
cases in the human trafficking and document fraud arena and is involved
in the Georgia Rescue and Restore Coalition, whose goal is to identify
victims of human trafficking and get these victims the support and
services they need to safely escape the traffickers.
During Susan's Ian Axford Fellowship in New Zealand, she was based
at the Ministry of Justice and worked with the New Zealand Police
and Immigration New Zealand, investigating recent New Zealand cases
and laws passed to curtail and punish human trafficking, smuggling
and commercial sexual exploitation in order to determine whether
they are being effectively implemented by those in local law enforcement.
Abstract
People trafficking is a global epidemic with an estimated 800,000 people
trafficked each year, the majority being trafficked into commercial sexual
exploitation. This report looks at the range of laws in effect in New
Zealand to address both people trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.
Cases are already being successfully brought under the Prostitution Reform
Act and the smuggling provision of the Crimes Act. To date, there have
been no cases brought under the trafficking provisions of the Crimes Act
(section 98D). People trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation cases
bring unique issues with respect to victims, both in terms of identifying
them and working with them to achieve a successful prosecution. The analysis
includes identification of future challenges New Zealand faces in combating
under-age commercial sexual exploitation. The report also contains a survey
of some non-governmental organisations and the work they do to prevent
at-risk youth from engaging in commercial sexual exploitation.
By presenting three case studies, the report examines potential transnational
people trafficking in New Zealand. These case studies arose prior to the
enactment of the trafficking laws in 2002, but provide a basis for analysing
people trafficking in New Zealand and an indicator of what cases may arise
in the future. These case studies also provide scenarios for training
law enforcement in recognising and investigating people trafficking. Lastly,
recommendations are made as to what steps New Zealand can take to reduce
commercial sexual exploitation of persons under 18 years of age and prosecute
future people trafficking cases.
Table
of contents
Acknowledgments
Executive Summary
Introduction
Legal Definitions of People Trafficking
Is There People Trafficking in New Zealand?
Successfully Prosecuting Cases
Outreach Programmes That Are Making a Difference: Solutions for At-Risk
Youth
Future Challenges for New Zealand in Combating Under-Age Commercial
Sexual Exploitation
axford2006_coppedge.pdf (466kb)
