Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women is a network of more than 80 non-governmental organisations from all regions of the world, who share a deep concern for the women, children, and men whose human rights have been violated by the criminal practice of trafficking in persons. GAATW is committed to work for changes in the political, economic, social, and legal systems and structures which contribute to the persistence of trafficking in persons and other human rights violations in the context of migratory movements for diverse purposes, including security of labour and livelihood. It was founded in 1994 by several feminist activists.
Method
GAATW applies a human rights approach to trafficking, which means:
Centering the human rights of trafficked persons and those in vulnerable situations, in all anti-trafficking activities;
Acknowledging the equality of all persons to exercise, defend and promote their inherent, universal and indivisible human rights
Primacy of the principles of accountability, participation and inclusivity / non-discrimination in working methodologies, and organisational structures and procedures. In this respect, self-representation and organisation of those directly affected by trafficking are strongly encouraged and supported.
Activities
GAATW's work is structured around three main strategic thematic directions:
Accountability, which aims to increase the accountability of all anti-trafficking stakeholders involved in the design or implementation of anti-trafficking responses, towards the persons whose human rights they purport to protect.
Access to Justice, which aims to broaden spaces for trafficked persons and migrant workers to practice their human rights by improving access to justice and combating all forms of discrimination that impact women’s ability to exercise their human rights as they relate to trafficking.
Power in Migration and Work, which centres an analysis of women’s power in their labour and migration to better assess migration and labour policies’ impact on women, and to work towards labour and migration processes that reflect migrants’ needs, aspirations and capabilities.
GAATW also serves its members through international advocacy, research and strategic communications. The organisations has produced a number of seminal publications that have challenged and improved the understanding of human trafficking, among them:
Human Rights Standards for the Treatment of Trafficked Persons - a collection of human rights standards that can be used to protect trafficked persons' rights.
Collateral Damage - The Impact of Anti-Trafficking Measures on Human Rights around the World - a research in eight countries across the globe highlighting how anti-trafficking policies are routinely used to infringe on the human rights of groups of people, like women, migrants and sex workers.
What's the Cost of a Rumour? A guide to sorting out the myths and the facts about sporting events and trafficking - which challenged the wide-spread false belief that large sporting events lead to an increase in human trafficking.
