Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons

Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons
Abbreviation IWG-TIP
Successor Human Trafficking Taskforce
Formation 1999
Extinction June 6, 2012
Type GO
Legal status Ad hoc
Purpose To develop public policy related to human trafficking in Canada
Region served
 Canada

The Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons (IWG-TIP) was the body responsible for the development of public policy related to human trafficking in Canada[1] until the organization was replaced by the Human Trafficking Taskforce in June 2012.[2] The IWG-TIP was established in 1999 and was co-chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development and the Department of Justice.[3] Seventeen agencies and departments of the Government of Canada participated in the working group.[4] The group produced a pamphlet in 14 languages with the intention of educating at-risk women about how they might avoid being trafficked.[5] This pamphlet was distributed internationally.[6] The IWG-TIP promoted the idea that victims of human trafficking should be primarily served by community organizations.[7] In 2004, the IWG-TIP was mandated to create a national anti-human-trafficking plan, and both politicians and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) proceeded to remind the IWG-TIP of this unfulfilled mandate for the following eight years.[8] The IWG-TIP continued to promise to establish such a plan throughout these years.[9] On March 31, 2004, the IWG-TIP website was updated to state that it was having a meeting with academics and NGOs "to discuss various elements of a potential federal anti-trafficking strategy," but no more updates were made to the website over the following four years.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Jeffrey T. Bergner, ed. (2008). Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2008. Diane Publishing. p. 2610. ISBN 1437905226.
  2. ↑ "Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography" (PDF). Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children. October 5, 2012. p. 2. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  3. ↑ Combatting Trafficking in Persons: A Handbook for Parliamentarians (16 ed.). United Nations. 2009. p. 99.
  4. ↑ Toolkit to Combat Trafficking in Persons. United Nations. 2008. pp. 82–83. ISBN 9211337895.
  5. ↑ "Human Traffic: Foreign Girls are Paying for Canada's Laxed Laws". View Magazine. June 24–30, 2004. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling". Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. May 23, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  7. ↑ Jacqueline Oxman-Martinez; Jill Hanley; Marie Lacroix (2008). "The Voices of NGOs: Demand and Supply for Protection Services for Victims of Trafficking". Presses de l'Université du Québec. p. 379. ISBN 2760519880.
  8. ↑ "2012 Trafficking in Persons Report: Canada Chapter". United States Department of State. 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  9. ↑ "UBC Legal Expert Releases Canada's First Stats on Foreign Human Trafficking Victims". University of British Columbia. October 28, 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  10. ↑ Tamara Cherry (October 1, 2008). "Canada turns its back on victims: 'If you compare what the U.S. is doing to what Canada is doing, it's shameful'". Toronto Sun. Retrieved November 28, 2013.