To effectively combat human trafficking, it is imperative that front-line responders, especially law enforcement agencies, are equipped with the know-how to correctly identify and respond to human trafficking cases. Over the years, various tools have been developed and disseminated to assist law enforcement officers to identify victims of human trafficking. Despite such efforts, timely identification of victims remains a challenge rarely met. This greatly hinders the access of human trafficking victims to assistance and protection, prolonging suffering and exploitation at the hands of traffickers.
Agencies working to combat this crime often experience a lack of adequate resources and time to train law enforcement personnel to effectively respond to the complexities of human trafficking. While there is a wealth of specialized training material on how to tackle trafficking in persons, there is a lack of easy-to-use information for law enforcement first responders, that is, front-line officers, who can provide "emergency treatment" before specialists are mobilized to intervene. The format of the First Aid Kit aims to fill this gap.
People providing first aid take first steps to identify problems and to stabilize and prepare patients for further treatment by medical experts. Law enforcement first responders fighting human trafficking carry out similar functions - they take the vital first steps to protect victims and , additionally, to investigate and apprehend the criminals involved.
Specifically, front-line law enforcement officers take first steps to:
The UNODC Human Trafficking First Aid Kit for Law Enforcement Agencies has been designed to support front-line officers who may come into contact with cases of human trafficking.
As well as a full e-version, the First Aid Kit has been released as a sample, or demonstration model carry case containing different types of concise yet useful information, providing guidance to first responders, who can play a vital role in determining the fate of a trafficked person by identifying indicators of human trafficking.
The First Aid Kit has been designed by the UNODC Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Unit (AHTMSU) in response to the need identified by many practitioners in different regions of the world to make easy-to-use information available to all law enforcement officers, to increase the identification of trafficked persons.
The First Aid Kit is intended for use by
The First Aid Kit is envisaged as a compact, user-friendly, concise guide at the most practical level, adaptable to country-specific requirements, to assist regular (non-specialized) law enforcement officers who may have to deal with trafficking in persons cases. The First Aid Kit complements the existing UNODC Anti Trafficking Training Manual and other practitioner-focused material for criminal justice officials.
The booklet contains the full version of the First Aid Kit for use by Law Enforcement Responders in Addressing Human Trafficking. The booklet is the primary tool in the First Aid Kit. The format is for pocket use, durable and hard-wearing.
Three different posters highlight the message of the First Aid Kit and recall "Dos" and "DON'Ts" when handling potential trafficking cases as first responder.
These information cards are laminated so to be as read many times and passed from hand to hand. The cards present essential information and guidelines:
These sheets are designed to be adapted to country-specific settings and structures. The empty contact forms can be filled with details of relevant local contact points which law enforcement agents might consider to contact for further assistance to victims such as:
The Posters, leaflets and contact cards of the First Aid Kit are available in all UN languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. The booklet in the carry case is currently available only in English.
The First Aid Kit can be used immediately by practitioners, but its full value can only be realised by adaption at the national level.
As such, the First Aid Kit can be used to provide practical support for frontline police on how to respond to human trafficking in their own country. The First Aid Kit can be adapted and integrated into existing police procedures and materials.
The e-files of the materials are available from the download section below.
Arabic - Chinese - English - French - Russian - Spanish
Print file: English Booklet translation: Arabic - Chinese - English - French - Russian - Spanish
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