Human Rights Council - 26th Regular Session
Clustered Interactive dialogue with International Expert on the International Solidarity and the Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Especially in Women and Girls
Australian statement
13 June 2014
Australia thanks the Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Especially in Women and Girls for her report.
Australia will today address the report on trafficking and would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for her important contribution over the course of her mandate.
Victim support and protection is one of the four pillars of Australia’s response to trafficking in persons. In 2013, the Australian Parliament passed legislation to improve the availability of reparation orders to individual victims of Commonwealth crimes, including trafficking in persons.
Australia agrees that regional frameworks and initiatives have an important role to play in supporting the right to an effective remedy. Australia, as co-chair with Indonesia of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, is working closely with regional partners to enhance cooperation on trafficking in persons.
Australia has led the development of a Bali Process policy guide on trafficking in persons aimed at assisting countries to implement international obligations, and in March 2014 convened a regional consultation workshop to finalise the guide.
Australia is interested in the Special Rapporteur’s views on how to balance the specific needs of victims with the need to ensure the investigation and prosecution of those who take advantage of the most vulnerable in our communities.