30 June 2021, Geneva: CHRI made a video intervention in the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Ms. Siobhán Mullally. 

The statement was based on our analysis of the findings in her latest annual report presented to the UN Human Rights Council on the 'Implementation of the Non-Punishment Principle'. 

In the statement, delivered by Ms. Sneh Aurora, CHRI shared that only 24 out of the 54 Commonwealth States have incorporated the Non-Punishment Principle in their domestic legislation. It called upon States to ensure that victims of trafficking are not held liable for unlawful conduct that occurred as a consequence of being trafficked. 

CHRI noted that between July 2017 and February 2020, 21 Commonwealth governments detained or deported foreign victims of trafficking on the basis of immigration violations in violation of the Non-Punishment Principle. 

CHRI emphasised the need for regular training of frontline responders to ensure early identification of trafficking persons to ensure effective implementation of the principle and called on States to fulfil their commitments to protect victims of trafficking.   

You can read the statement here and watch the video below: