World: Human Trafficking and Smuggling

As opportunities for legal migration decrease and economic and security complications in countries of origin increase, people are forced to migrate irregularly. In many cases, they end up exploited for labour or sex. Demand for low skilled/low cost labour in the global north (along with well-established informal labour practices in destination and transit countries) as well as lack of information about legal migration channels result in migrants falling prey to smuggling and trafficking networks.

This six-week instructor-led e-learning course analyses the concepts of human trafficking and migrant smuggling while discussing various practical cases from around the globe. It focuses on existing policies and modalities of prevention, protection and prosecution, including victim identification, national/ trans-national referral mechanisms and best practices in combating these crimes while addressing the needs of survivors.

The course involves approximately 30 hours of reading, on-line working groups, interaction with students and the instructor, quizzes, a writing assignment and webinars. The course is based on a participatory, active learning approach, with an emphasis on peer-to-peer learning. Students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Course outline

Week 1: Introduction to human trafficking and migrant smuggling
Week 2: The 2000 UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and its additional "Palermo Protocols": legal and policy aspects around trafficking and smuggling
Week 3: Victim identification and assistance
Week 4: National and trans-national referral mechanisms: Standard Operating Procedures
Week 5: Current practices in combating and addressing human trafficking and smuggling
Week 6: Developing and monitoring national strategies and action plans on human trafficking and smuggling

For more information and online registration: www.hrea.org/trafficking