Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma addresses Commonwealth Law Ministers at the Scotlish Parliament in Edinburgh
Law Ministers call for action plan to combat human trafficking
10 July 2008
Overcrowding in prisons another key focus at Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting held in Edinburgh, Scotland
Law ministers have called on the Commonwealth Secretariat to develop a Plan of Action to combat human trafficking.
This request came at the end of a four-day meeting held in Edinburgh, where they heard presentations on legal issues relating to human trafficking and how to address this “heinous crime”.
Ministers shared details of legislation which criminalises human trafficking in their respective countries and gave information of measures taken to recover proceeds from trafficking.
They also underscored the key role of both regional and international co-operation in this area and welcomed news that most Commonwealth countries have now become parties of the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its Protocols against Trafficking in Persons and Migrant Smuggling.
“Human trafficking removes a person’s dignity and makes them nothing more than a commodity,” said Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Legal Director at the Secretariat. “We welcome the prospect of working with other regional and international organisations to develop an action plan to combat this deplorable and degrading crime.”
As well as human trafficking, ministers emphasised the importance of the relationship between the rule of law and the benefits it secures for people through good governance.
During their deliberations they also discussed ways to enhance independence of the judiciary; strengthening prosecuting authorities; police and prison reforms; strengthening the legal profession; access to justice; law reform; and combating corruption.
Concern of overcrowding and detention in prisons was another key area addressed by law ministers at this triennial meeting, which took place between 7 and 10 July 2008.
After hearing a paper examining this problem of overcrowding, the Secretariat was requested to formulate a strategy towards reducing the overall number of prisoners held in detention, with due regard to legitimate concerns of victims of crime. This strategy will be considered by law ministers at their next meeting.
Click here to read the final communiqué from the 2008 Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting
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