International Legal Frameworks

Key global instruments defining trafficking and setting legal obligations

UN Palermo Protocol (2000)

Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children is the primary international instrument defining human trafficking and establishing standards for prevention, prosecution, and victim protection.

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ILO Forced Labour Conventions

The ILO Forced Labour Convention (No. 29), its 2014 Protocol, and the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No. 105) form the legal basis for addressing labor trafficking in international law.

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Child Protection Instruments

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol establish legal protections against the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography. These instruments define state obligations to prevent child trafficking and exploitation.

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Trafficking Case Law & Legal Precedents

Case databases and reports on trafficking prosecutions

UNODC Case Law Database

A searchable database of human trafficking cases from national courts around the world. It includes case summaries, legal reasoning, charges, and sentencing details to support legal research and training.

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UNODC Knowledge Portal

A legal resource center providing access to national laws, judicial decisions, and legal commentary related to human trafficking.

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Human Trafficking Institute

The Human Trafficking Institute focuses on improving the investigation and prosecution of trafficking crimes. It provides legal training and publishes the Federal Human Trafficking Report, which analyzes U.S. federal court activity related to trafficking cases.

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Law Enforcement & Data Platforms

Tools for investigations, data sharing, and operations

INTERPOL Human Trafficking Program

A program that supports international law enforcement coordination on trafficking and migrant smuggling. It provides secure communication tools, case coordination support, and investigative training to police agencies across member countries.

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