Influencing Law and Policy to Protect and Support Victims of Human Trafficking

Researcher
Professor Ryszard Piotrowicz

The Overview

Professor Piotrowicz’s research has had significant impact on human trafficking law and policy in four areas:

  • In monitoring states’ compliance with their obligations under the 
    Council of Europe anti-trafficking convention
  • In informing state policy
  • In embedding the principle of non-punishment of trafficked people in 
    national legal systems
  • In providing training and guidelines for states on the legal issues 
    surrounding human trafficking

This resulted in changes to laws and policies on human trafficking. He also devised and contributed to training programmes on human trafficking for public servants, NGOs, and international organisations. Combined, these represent a sustained and significant impact on policy and practice.

The Research

Piotrowicz’s research focuses on the legal regulation of trafficking of human beings. This research clarifies the rights of people who have been, or are at risk of being, trafficked to legal protection, and the obligations of States to provide such protection. It also explains the duty of States not to punish those who have been trafficked for crimes they have been forced to commit.

"[Piotrowicz’s]…contribution and continued commitment in this field (modern slavery and human trafficking) has been hugely valuable."

UK Home Office's Deputy Director of Modern Slavery, February 2021

The Impact

Monitoring States' Compliance with their Obligations Under the Council of Europe Anti-trafficking Convention

Piotrowicz helped to shape the agenda and decide priorities for the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA). International guidelines and European policy informed by Piotrowicz’s research are extensively referred to in GRETA country monitoring reports.

Informing State Policy

Piotrowicz’s country-monitoring work has directly impacted on States’ anti-trafficking laws and policies. As a member of GRETA, Piotrowicz made eleven country monitoring visits from 2013 to 2020. The recommendations adopted after these visits have resulted in these countries amending their anti-trafficking laws and policies.

Embedding the Principle of Non-punishment of Trafficked People in National Legal Systems

Piotrowicz’s report for the Special Coordinator for Anti-Trafficking of the OSCE on the non-punishment of victims of trafficking for offences they have been forced to commit was cited in guidance for States published by the UN, in policy statements by the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings, by the UK government, and by the UN Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT). All GRETA country reports since 2015 also refer to the OSCE policy of non-punishment of trafficked persons as guidance for States.

Providing Training and Guidelines for States on the Legal Issues Surrounding Human Trafficking

The UNHCR guidelines on entitlement of trafficked people to refugee status, informed by Piotrowicz’s research, were cited by the UK government, and by the UN Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT). They have also been used in UNHCR training packages on human trafficking. Piotrowicz also devised training programmes in human trafficking and migration law across Europe organised by numerous international organisations.

Get in touch

As a University, we’re always keen to share our knowledge and expertise more widely for the benefit of society. If you’d like to find out more or explore how you can collaborate with our researchers, get in touch with our dedicated team of staff in the Department of Research, Business and Innovation. We’d love to hear from you. Just drop an e-mail to:

research@aber.ac.uk

Research Impact Case Studies | Research Theme: Society