Trafficking in persons never stops. It thrives, it diversifies itself, it changes to meet the needs of different local and global markets and to counteract the law enforcement action. Human trafficking is a constituent part of it is intertwined or confused with other phenomena, including smuggling of migrants, irregular immigration, international protection, labour exploitation, forced labour, prostitution, begging. It camouflages itself in the urban landscape or it settles in the well-established places of exclusion, thus, contributing to creating a toponym of marginalization that does not appear in any official map but it is clearly present in the work plans of the organizations providing support to migrants.

Since the early 1990s, human trafficking has gradually moved up the agendas of national, European and international institutions and organizations. Over the last twenty years, legislation, action plans, multi-agency referral systems, cross-sectoral interventions, operational tools, local and transnational memoranda of understanding, research, and budget lines have been put in place to prevent and fight trafficking and provide specialized support for thousands of women, men, boys, girls and children trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labour, illegal activities, forced begging, organ removal. Yet, this does not seem to be enough. Human trafficking continues to be among the most lucrative criminal businesses and one of the finest mechanism of systematic violation of the human rights of its victims. Why, then, have the efforts made so far been inadequate to counteract trafficking in persons? What can be done to build effective strategies?

To answer all these questions, we organized Beyond the Midlands³, an international conference on human trafficking to discuss how to re-orient and improve the programming and the implementation of policies and measures to prevent and counteract human trafficking, and to support and protect potential, presumed or identified victims. Here you can find all the conference materials such as full videos, interviews and PowerPoint presentations. Enjoy!

At the end of the Conference a proposition paper was drafted. It is addressed to all institutions and organizations operating at the national and international level in the fight against human trafficking. If you share our aims and values and want to contribute to our fight, share it with your contacts!

#PANEL 1

HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE LONG ROAD TOWARDS SECURING THE VICTIM RIGHTS

A dialogue between some of the greatest international human trafficking experts to discuss about the evolution of the phenomenon and identify the most urgent actions.

#PANEL 2

DATA ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING: BETWEEN ESTIMATES, VALUES & ABSOLUTE UNCERTAINTIES

Data is important, collecting it allows us to bring awareness and drive the change.

#PANEL 3

NORMS, IDENTITIES & DANGEROUS CONFUSIONS

Italian system: the consequences of an incorrect use of language and the choice to outsource the human rights protection system.

#PANEL 4

PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS BETWEEN EXTERNAL BORDERS AND INTERNAL BARRIERS

Suggestions to protect the rights of victims of trafficking, whether minors or persons residing in informal settlements, and the importance of strengthening transnational judicial cooperation.

#PANEL 5

NEW FORMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING: A JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD

Human trafficking for the purpose of organ removal, forced marriages and kidnappings. New forms of human trafficking aggravated by the use of new technologies.

#PANEL 6

TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE ANTI-TRAFFICKING MEASURES

How to train new operators, evaluate the effectiveness of anti-trafficking campaigns and strengthen collaboration with the private sector.

CHAIRPERSONS OF THE CONFERENCE