Remedies for Victims of Human Trafficking Under the Palermo Protocol and United Nations Basic Principles: A Case Study Analysis

Human trafficking is a phenomenon that is happening right under our noses, yet does not receive the recognition nor publicity necessary to combat this human rights crisis. The Palermo Protocol and the United Nations Basic Principles have been implemented on an international level to solve these issues, but with varied success. The Palermo Protocol was created to apply to the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of the offenses established in article 5 of the Protocol. The Basic Principles from A/HRC/26/18 highlight the fact that effective remedies are not often accessible to victims of trafficking, as there are gaps between enactment and implementation of national laws and international standards, and these Principles are divided into four components. In the United States, the annual TIP Reports present information to the US Government and public at large regarding research on nations throughout the world and their status with respect to human trafficking. This Paper explores case studies of thirteen countries throughout the world and assesses their implementation of the Palermo Protocol and Basic Principles. Those Principles in this analysis include: rights and obligations, access to the right to a remedy, forms of a remedy, and a right to a remedy of child victims of trafficking. Although there have been positive steps taken to address remedial issues in trafficking in persons, there is still a lot of work to be done. Moving forward, there must be increased publicity regarding the prevalence of human trafficking, as well as an increased amount of resources to combat this crisis. There may be no specific formula for each country, but it will take more than legislation to create lasting change