Memorandum submitted by Stop the Traffik
1. STOP THE TRAFFIK welcomes the International
Development Committee's Inquiry into DFID and the World Bank.
The use of multilateral institutions to channel funding for development
can be beneficial if accountability and efficiency are both ensured.
2. STOP THE TRAFFIK agrees with the premise
that it is essential to coordinate DFID's involvement with the
World Bank around its priorities and objectives of achieving the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, a much more holistic
approach that addresses contributory factors to the issues raised
by the MDGs must be adopted if the targets are going to be met.
One of these factors is human trafficking.
3. STOP THE TRAFFIK is working to raise
awareness of and demonstrate the links between the issues identified
by the MDGs and the modern-day slave trade that is human trafficking,
through research, advocacy, and education, thereby showing that
human trafficking is a development issue. The aims of DFID and
the World Bank cannot be achieved without tackling human trafficking,
and tackling human trafficking cannot be successful without achieving
the MDGs. The issues identified by the MDGs such as poverty and
lack of education are the root causes of human trafficking, and
human trafficking sustains people's entrapment within situations
of poverty and exploitation.
4. To this end, STOP THE TRAFFIK are urging
DFID to press for an anti-trafficking focus as a key criterion
in World Bank tools such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers
(PRSPs) and other Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) outlets.
These would develop tailored programmes for identified people
groups vulnerable to trafficking, particularly women, children,
and marginalised communities, which would help achieve the MDGs.
5. Additionally, DFID are committed under
Action Point 5 of the UK Action Plan to Tackle Human Trafficking
to address the root causes of trafficking, through supporting
anti-trafficking projects which address the factors that make
individuals vulnerable to trafficking. The Action Plan states
that:
Where prevention of cross border trafficking
is concerned, it is crucial that push and pull factors are addressed,
such as the increasing inequality in prosperity between and within
countries and the increasing demand for cheap labour and other
exploitative services. The reasons why people become vulnerable
to trafficking, such as the lack of employment and development
opportunities, poverty and gender inequality problems also need
to be addressed in the wider development work.[118]
6. STOP THE TRAFFIK therefore urges the
International Development Committee to assess how DFID can fulfil
its objectives of achieving the MDGs through the World Bank by
addressing the impact of human trafficking. This would present
a more holistic approach to development.
118 UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking, Home
Office, March 2007, available at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/human-traffick-action-plan?view=Binary Back
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