The following reports set forth the United Nations' position on trafficking - that it is a human rights violation and States have an obligation to prevent, investigate and punish acts of trafficking as well as ensure that the rights and dignity of trafficking victims are protected.

Transnational Trafficking in West Africa, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2009).
This report released by the UNODC includes a section on sex trafficking from West Africa to Europe.  It details the practices used by traffickers, including the debt bondage system and the influence of ethnic crime networks.  The effects of trafficking on the rule of law in West Africa are also analyzed in this report.

Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2009)
This report by the UNODC includes a global overview on legislation, the criminal justice response, trafficking patterns, intra-and-international flows, and monitoring. The report also contains trafficking statistics and a summary of government response to trafficking for a variety of countries from all regions of the world.

Trafficking in Persons-Global Patterns, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, www.unodc.org, 24 April 2006.
This most recent report released by the UNODC identifies 127 countries of origin, 98 transit countries and 137 destination countries for human trafficking.  It emphasizes that international efforts to stop trafficking have been hindered by the lack of accurate data, which shows an overall unwillingness of some countries to admit their internal problems.  The report ranked states on a scale from "very low" to "very high" as countries of origin and destination.  It was found that people are usually trafficked from poor countries to affluent ones and that in most cases women and children are the ones targeted.

Integration of the Human Rights of Women and a Gender Perspective, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights aspects of the victims of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Sigma Huda, Commisions on Human Rights, United Nations, 20 February 2006.
This report identifies factors influencing trafficking in persons and looks at the impact demand has on this process. The first section describes the activities of the Special Rapporteur during the time period of January-December 2005. The second section examines the link between human trafficking and the demand for commercial sexual exploitation, and the final section consists of conclusions and recommendations from the Special Rapporteur. The report emphasizes methods used to target demand side trafficking as used by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The report concludes by addressing paths for education and advocacy.

2004 Report of the Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Integration of the Human Rights of Women and the Gender Perspective, 22 Dec. 2004 (E/CN.4/2005/71) (PDF 15 pages – available in all official United Nations Languages)
This is the first report by the newly appointed Rapporteur on Trafficking, Ms. Sigma Huda.  In it she observes that while the majority of victims of trafficking are women and girls trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation, many human beings are trafficked for labor exploitation or for international adoption.  While the Special Rapporteur believes that trafficking represents the denial of virtually all human rights, it has nevertheless been treated as a “law and order” problem.  She intends through her activities and the relevant international instruments to highlight the human rights implications of trafficking and combat trafficking and its effects on people and societies by formulating recommendations through a human rights approach.

Addendum 1 is a preliminary report of the Special Rapporteur’s recent visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina to gather information on combating trafficking and to study the current situation and create recommendations to help the Government address the root cause of trafficking and help protectg the human rights of its victims. (PDF, 4 pages – available in English and Arabic)

Addendum 2 is a complete report on “The Integration of Human Rights of Women and Gender Perspective” by Sigma Huda, the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons. The Report is based on the Special Rapporteur’s visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina 21-28 February 2005.

Europe, Central Asia, and North America Region. Quarterly Reports on Field Offices, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2003 - 2004. 
Field reports from various countries.  Include reporting on specific initiatives and actions as well as trafficking and human rights issues.

United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations Policy Paper: 2004 Human Trafficking and United Nations Peacekeeping.  March 2004  (PDF, 11 pages)
This paper examines the relationship between human trafficking and UN Peacekeeping Operations.  It also proposes a strategy for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to address human trafficking, based on lessons from previous missions and consultations with partner organizations in anti-trafficking.

United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations: Gender Resource Package for Peacekeeping Operations.  July 2004  (PDF, 208 pages)
Designed to explain the “gender mainstreaming” concept to peacekeeping personnel, this guide is a reference that includes background information and highlights key gender issues in each functional area of peacekeeping operations.  This guide is intended for use by all peacekeeping personnel.  Additionally, this package may serve as a resource for UN partners and non-governmental organizations working in conflict and post-conflict environments, as well as for donors, regional organizations, national governments and civil society.

WHO Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Interviewing Trafficked Women, World Health Organization, Health Policy Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Daphne Programme of the European Commission, 2003 (PDF, 36 pages).
This report lists the ten guiding principles to conducting interviews with trafficked women in a safe and ethical manner. The report describes and provides recommendations for each principle.

Not a Minute More: Ending Violence Against Women, United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), 2003 (PDF, 114 pages).
This report highlights the substantial achievements and advancements in women’s human rights over the past few decades, suggests reasons for the continued pandemic of violence against women, and outlines the next steps in eradicating gender-based violence through collaboration and partnerships. 

Trafficking in Human Beings in Southeastern Europe: Current Situation and Responses, Barbara Limanowska, UNICEF, UNHCHR, OSCE-ODIHR, 2002. [PDF, 270 pages].
This comprehensive report provides an overview of the situation and response to trafficking in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova and Romania. It looks at regional initiatives as well as the responses of individual governments to the problem of trafficking.  The report includes details about inadequacies in victim services as well as recommendations for intergovernmental organizations, national governments, NGOs and donors on prevention, victim assistance, legal reform and training

End Child Exploitation: Stop the Traffic, UNICEF UK, July 2003. [PDF, 40 pages].
UNICEF reports that over one million children worldwide are trafficked annually. This report focuses on the thousands of children trafficked to the UK every year, mainly from West Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia. The report examines how children are trafficked, the consequences of trafficking in children, regional trafficking patterns, and the international legal framework. The report also suggests seven key UNICEF interventions for combating trafficking.

2003 Report of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, International, Regional and National Developments in the Area of Violence Against Women, 1994-2003 (E/CN.4/2003/75), March 2003. [Available in PDF and Word, 24 pages].
In Chapter VI, Trafficking, the Special Rapporteur discusses developments in the fight against trafficking over the last decade, examining the progression from the abolitionist approach under the 1949 Convention on the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons to the regulationist approach under the 2000 Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons. The report also includes a general discussion of positive changes that have occurred, but cautions against reforms that violate the human rights of women while attempting to protect them from trafficking.

Addendum 1 is a country-by-country discussion of gender issues. Most of the country reports discuss trafficking, examining legislation, landmark cases, policies and programs, and issues of concern. Eastern Europe is discussed on pp. 335-391; Central Asian states are included in the Asia section from pp. 165-222. [Available in PDF and Word, 435 pages.]

First World Report on Violence and Health, World Health Organization, 2002.  [PDF, 372 pages; 54 page summary in PDF, press releases and fact sheets available].  Also available in Russian, 2003.
The Summary of the Report includes a discussion of sexual violence (pages 17-18), which identifies both "forced prostitution and sexual trafficking."  Chapter 6 of the full report provides much more detail about Sexual Violence, (pages 149- 181), including the definition, risk factors, consequences and strategies to address victims' needs, perpetrators and community education.  Pages 153- 155 discuss sexual trafficking and violence against commercial sex workers.  The Report concludes with general recommendations for responses to violence at local, national and international levels.

The Race Dimensions of Trafficking in Persons—Especially Women and Children, World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Durban, South Africa, September 2001. [PDF, 2 pages].
This background paper focuses on the intersection of trafficking and racial discrimination: discrimination may be a risk factor for trafficking, it may affect the treatment of victims in destination countries, and it may also shape the demand for women from particular regions.

2000 Report of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Human Rights of Women and the Gender Perspective (E/CN.4/2000/68), February 2000.

Recommended Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Human Trafficking, Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, to the Economic and Social Council (United Nations E/2002/68/Add.1), 20 May 2002.  [PDF, 16 pages; Word, 16 pages].

"A World Free of Violence Against Women," Violence Against Women in the World of Work, Janine Rodgers, International Labor Organization (ILO), 8 March 1999.
The International Labor Organization approaches trafficking in women, like other forms of workplace violence, as a human rights issue, a labor issue and a health and safety issue.  This report emphasizes the need for international co-ordination of action to promote the rights and protection of migrant workers and to effectively combat trafficking.

United Nations' reports on issues concerning women's rights may be located at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights website, Documents on Women's Rights. This site includes documents produced by the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on the Status of Women and the Economic and Social Council. A reference number may be necessary to locate a specific document.

last updated 13 October, 2008.

The following reports define European Union policy on the issue of trafficking in women. As is the case with the Council of Europe, the European Parliament has adopted a number of recommendations for member States and candidate countries on combating trafficking.

The following reports address the problem of trafficking in women to Europe and offer recommendations for actions by Council of Europe member Sates to prevent and punish trafficking, through legislation, bilateral agreements, cross-border cooperation and coordination with NGOs. Within the Council of Europe system, the text of a number of reports on trafficking have been adopted as resolutions by the Committee of Ministers or the Parliamentary Assembly, forming guidelines for member States.

The homepage for trafficking includes an overview of Council of Europe policy and action, as well as links to documents on trafficking.

Criminal Law Reform on Trafficking in Human Beings in South-Eastern Europe: Pilot Project in Romania and Moldova (2001-2002), Council of Europe Secretariats of the Directorate General of Legal Affairs and the Directorate General of Human Rights, March 2003.
The goal of this pilot project was to contribute to efficient criminalization of trafficking at the regional level by ensuring that countries adopt and implement comprehensive legislation covering all aspects of trafficking in accordance with European and other international standards. The report discusses three meetings convened in order to examine national legislation and create national plans for implementing international guidelines.

Report of the Committee for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men: “Prostitution—Which Stance to Take?”, prepared by Leo Platvoet, Rapporteur, Committee for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men of the Council of Europe, 9 July 2007, (DOC.11352).  This report provides information on member states’ approaches to prostitution.  The report strongly condemns forced prostitution that may arise as a result of human trafficking.  However, this report focuses on voluntary prostitution and recommends that states adhere to a regulationist approach.  The Rapporteur suggests that such an approach best protects the health and safety of prostitutes.

Group of Specialists on the Impact of the Use of New Information Technologies on Trafficking in Human Beings for the Purpose of Sexual Exploitation,Council of Europe, February 2003.
This report draws attention to the fact that traffickers are exploiting new information technologies such as e-mail and the internet, and examines the problems this poses for law enforcement in protecting human rights while still guaranteeing access to information technologies.

Campaign Against Trafficking In Women: Report of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, prepared by Lydie Err, Luxembourg, Rapporteur, for the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, 7 September 2001 (Doc. 9190).

Domestic Slavery, Report prepared by John Connor, Ireland, Rapporteur, for the Council of Europe Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, 17 May 2001 (Doc. 9102).
This report offers information about trafficking of women to Europe for domestic work.  While trafficking for these purposes involves many of the same human rights violations as trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation, the problem has received much less attention from international organizations, national governments, donors and NGOs.  This report includes an overview of the situation for victims, of available legal instruments and recommendations for further action.

Violence Against Women in Europe: Report of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, prepared by Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold, Switzerland, Rapporteur, for the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, 15 March 2000 (Doc. 8667). 
Sections IIC and IID of this report address domestic slavery and trafficking in women and prostitution as forms of violence against women in Europe.  Other sections of this report deal with domestic violence, rape and sexual assault.

Legislation in the Member States of the Council of Europe in the Field of Violence Against Women, prepared in part by Jill Radford, United Kingdom, for the Council of Europe's Steering Committee for Equality Between Men and Women, March 2004 (Doc. EG 2004 2).
This report details national legislation dealing with violence against women in 38 of the 45 Council of Europe member states. In 1995, the Council requested member states to complete a questionnaire on relevant legislation, and subsequent research completed by the Council allowed for a survey of the varying legislation of member states. The report consists of two volumes, ending with a list of good practices and effective legislation prohibiting violence against women. Section 8.0 within each national summary contains information, if available, on trafficking legislation and penalties.  

The homepage for trafficking provides general information about OSCE/ODIHR action on trafficking.

Ensuring Human Rights Protection in Countries of Destination: Breaking the Cycle of Trafficking.  OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, 5 August 2005 (PDF 186 pages)
Report of Helsinki conference that took place 23-24 September 2004.  Conference focused on protecting the human rights of trafficked persons in countries of destination, national and regional initiatives to improve victim protections, implementation of National Referral Mechanisms, and challenges and opportunities regarding European and  global institutions to strengthen the rights of trafficked persons.

South Eastern Europe’s Struggle Against Trafficking in Persons, Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings.  May, 2004 (PDF, 25 pages).
Describes the anti-trafficking work the Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings has done from 2000 through 2004.

Trafficking in Human Beings in South Eastern Europe, Barbara Limanowska, UN Children's Fund, UNHCHR, OSCE, 2004. (PDF, 270 pages).
This report discusses the situation of and responses to trafficking in Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo and Romania

Reference Guide for Anti-Trafficking Legislative Review, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), September 2001.  [PDF, 114 pages]. Also available in Russian [PDF, 151 pages] and in Serbian: Prirucnik za Reviziju Zakonske Regulative protiv Trgovine Ljudima, [PDF, 138 pages].
This guide takes a comprehensive view of the types of legislation necessary for an effective anti-trafficking policy.  The guide addresses prevention, prosecution and protection and assistance for victims, providing international standards, examples of national legislation and recommendations for legal initiatives that fall within each broad topic.

Trafficking In Human Beings: Implications for the OSCE, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Review Conference, September 1999, ODIHR Background Paper 1999/3. Also available in Russian.
This report presents the problem of trafficking in the OSCE region, defines OSCE commitments and international standards and provides information on initiatives by the OSCE, other international organizations and by NGOs to combat trafficking.