Publications

8th South Caucasus Media Conference, Tbilisi, 20-21 October 2011

This Fifth Occasional Paper in the Occasional Paper Series of the OSR/CTHB addresses and denounces the use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment by traffickers as a means to subjugate, control and punish trafficked people. It analyses under which circumstances trafficking can amount to torture or other forms of ill-treatment and it identifies the connection between both human rights violations from a clinical perspective. Importantly, the Paper provides the conceptual framework to understand what trafficking cases entail in terms of the physical and psychological effects on trafficked persons, and the legal and clinical implications that flow from this characterization, including in terms of legal entitlements. The Paper builds on the important work of the former UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Professor Dr. Manfred Nowak and the strong and long-standing clinical and policy experience of the British NGO, the Helen Bamber Foundation. Part 1 of the Paper authored by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights outlines and compares the existing legal frameworks on human rights, human trafficking as well as on torture and other forms of ill-treatment. Part 2 of the Paper examines the clinical links between human trafficking and torture, both in terms of the nature (physical and psychological) of the injuries from torture and ill-treatment, the impact of trafficking on victims and what this implies for effective assistance and sustained recovery This Occasional Paper is meant to provide a policy tool for decision makers and practitioners especially from the legal and medical sector dealing with human trafficking. Based on desk research, field work and case study analysis, it is also an excellent tool to inform the daily work of law enforcement, the judiciary, civil society, academia, the medical profession and the international community in their fight against human trafficking which should be firmly based on the rule of law and human rights.

The report outlines a spectrum of violence, ranging from intimidation, threats, vandalism and assault to arson and murder. It includes a set of recommendations to help OSCE participating States improve their national legal systems and provide them with tools for effectively combating hate crimes.

This handbook presents an overview of legislation, policies, and mechanisms for ensuring the protection and enforcement of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of armed forces personnel. While recognizing that no single model can apply equally to every individual country, the handbook presents examples from across the OSCE region of practices that have proved successful.

The 2012 Annual Report of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings aims to offer a concise overview of the wide range of activities carried out by the Office of the Special Representative and by the OSCE’s executive structures, institutions and field operations. The last part of the Report builds upon the October Alliance Conference “An Agenda for Prevention: Non Discrimination and Empowerment”, with an action-oriented paper highlighting how full recognition of the existing linkage between trafficking and discrimination can lead to new paths for advocacy, and make it possible that anti-trafficking and non-discrimination policies enhance each other.

The purpose of this report is to provide an assessment of the main developments since 2006 until 2011 in the areas which are vital for police reform in Montenegro.

In this issue: Message from the Chairperson-in-Office; 2009 OSCE Chairmanship; Special focus on gender and comprehensive security: Women and security- Domestic violence- Gender and migration.

In this issue: The environment and security initiative: From analysis to action; "Exemplary" Skopje-OSCE partnership reaches 15-year milestone; Commemorating 15 years of the Forum for Security Co-operation

In this issue: Greek Chairmanship- Papandreou addresses OSCE; 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall; Incoming Kazakh Chairmanship; Cyprus confronts its MANPADs menace; Announcements.