Blue Heart Campaign

{{Short description|Anti-trafficking program by the UNODC}} {{Infobox organization | name = Blue Heart Campaign | former_name = | bgcolor =  | fgcolor =  | image = Blue Heart Campaign logo.png | image_border = | image_size =  | image_alt = A blue heart shape, with the caption "blue heart campaign", then in a different font, "against Human Trafficking". | caption = Logo of the Blue Heart Campaign | map =  | map_size =  | map_alt =  | map_caption =  | map2 = | abbreviation = | predecessor = | successor = | formation =  | extinction =  | type =  | status =  | purpose = Anti-[[human trafficking|trafficking]] | headquarters = | location = | coordinates =  | region_served = | membership = | language =  | general_secretary =  | leader_title =  | leader_name =  | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | key_people = | main_organ =  | parent_organization = [[United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime]] | affiliations =  | budget = | num_staff = | num_volunteers = | website = {{url|http://www.unodc.org/blueheart}} | remarks = }}

The '''Blue Heart Campaign''' is an international anti-trafficking program started by the [[United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime]] (UNODC).<ref name=unodc>{{cite web | title = About the Blue Heart Campaign | publisher = [[United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime]] | url = https://www.unodc.org/blueheart/ | access-date = 13 March 2013}}</ref> Established in 1997, the UNODC supported countries in implementing three UN drug protocols. In 2000, after the [[UN General Assembly]] adopted the [[Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons]], the UNODC became the "guardian" of that protocol and assumed the functions of fighting against [[human trafficking]].<ref name=unric>{{cite web | title = The Blue Heart Campaign | publisher = [[United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe]] | url = http://www.unric.org/en/human-traffcking/27449-the-blue-heart-campaign/ | access-date = 13 March 2013 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Blue Heart Campaign was launched in March 2009 by the Executive Director of the UNODC, [[Antonio Maria Costa]], during his address to the World's Women's Conference meeting in [[Vienna]]. The campaign's symbol is a blue heart.<ref name=actual>{{cite web | title = Blue Heart Campaign to End Human Trafficking | publisher = [[actualism.org]] | url = http://www.actualism.org/blueheart.html/ | access-date = 13 March 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130816204534/http://actualism.org/blueheart.html | archive-date = 16 August 2013 }}</ref> The Blue Heart Campaign uses its website, as well as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr to communicate goals, objectives, and news with the public.

== Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons == The UN [[Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children]], which came into force on 25 December 2003, states that while there are rules and measures to combat the exploitation of persons, there is no universal instrument to combat all aspects of trafficking in persons.<ref name=ohchr>{{cite web | title = Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime | publisher = [[United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights]] | url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/ProtocolTraffickingInPersons.aspx | access-date = 13 March 2013}}</ref> The protocol includes legislative provisions and protection, prevention and cooperation measures.<ref name="ohchr"/> To date, more than 147 countries have ratified and signed the protocol.<ref name="unric"/> However, according to the UNODC, "very few criminals are being brought to justice and most victims are never identified or assisted.<ref name="unric"/>

== Funding == To support the Blue Heart Campaign, the UN launched the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons. The Fund was established following the adoption by the General Assembly in July 2010 of the UN [[Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons]]. The fund will also help Governments, as well as intergovernmental and [[non-governmental organization]]s, to protect and support victims of human trafficking so they can recover from their physical and psychological injuries.

== Trafficking in Persons Report == For the [[United States]], the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report is the principal [[Diplomacy|diplomatic]] tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking.<ref name=tip>{{cite web | title = Trafficking in Persons Report | publisher = Blue Heart Campaign | url = http://www.blueheartcampaign.org/trafficking-in-persons-report/ | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130703211130/http://www.blueheartcampaign.org/trafficking-in-persons-report/ | url-status = dead | archive-date = 3 July 2013 | access-date = 13 March 2013 }}</ref> It is the world's most comprehensive resource of governmental anti-human trafficking efforts and represents an updated, global look at the nature and scope of trafficking in persons and the broad range of government actions to confront and eliminate it.<ref name="tip"/> The U.S. government uses the TIP Report to engage foreign governments in dialogues to advance anti-trafficking reforms and to combat trafficking and to target resources on prevention, protection, and prosecution programs.<ref name="tip"/> International organizations, foreign governments, and nongovernmental organizations use the report as a tool to examine where resources are most needed.<ref name="tip"/> Freeing victims, preventing trafficking, and bringing traffickers to justice are the ultimate goals of the report and of the U.S. Government's anti-human trafficking policy.<ref name="tip"/> In the TIP Report, the [[US Department of State|Department of State]] places each country onto one of three tiers based on the extent of their governments' efforts to comply with the "minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking" found in Section 108 of the [[Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000|Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act]] (TVPA).<ref name="tip"/> While Tier 1 is the highest ranking, it does not mean that a country has no human trafficking problem. On the contrary, a Tier 1 ranking indicates that a government has acknowledged the existence of human trafficking, made efforts to address the problem, and complies with the TVPA's minimum standards.<ref name="tip"/> Each year, governments need to demonstrate appreciable progress in combating trafficking to maintain a Tier 1 ranking.<ref name="tip"/>

== National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month == On 31 December 2012 [[Barack Obama]] declared January the National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. In his proclamation, President Obama explains that "trafficking networks operate both domestically and trans-nationally, and although abuses disproportionately affect women and girls, the victims of this ongoing global tragedy are men, women, and children of all ages. Around the world, we are monitoring the progress of governments in combating trafficking while supporting programs aimed at its eradication".<ref name=proc>{{cite web | title = Presidential Proclamation: National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 2012 | url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/12/30/presidential-proclamation-national-slavery-and-human-trafficking-prevent | via = [[NARA|National Archives]] | work = [[whitehouse.gov]] | date=30 December 2011 | access-date = 15 April 2013}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> On 29 December 2017, President [[Donald Trump]] proclaimed January 2018 as ''National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Office of the Press Secretary|author-link=White House Office of the Press Secretary|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-proclaims-january-2018-national-slavery-human-trafficking-prevention-month/|title=President Donald J. Trump Proclaims January 2018 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|language=en|date=29 December 2017|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|access-date=10 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-declares-january-national-slavery-and-human-trafficking-prevention-month/article/2644586|title=Trump declares January 'National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month'|first=Sarah|last=Westwood|magazine=[[The Washington Examiner]]|publisher=Clarity Media Group|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|date=29 December 2017|access-date=10 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/366997-trump-commits-january-to-combatting-human-trafficking/|title=Trump designates January 2018 a month dedicated to combatting human trafficking|first=Avery|last=Anapol|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp.|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|date=1 January 2018|access-date=10 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Office of the Federal Register|author-link=Office of the Federal Register|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/01/04/2018-00099/national-slavery-and-human-trafficking-prevention-month-2018|title=National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 2018|work=[[Federal Register]]|publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]]|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|date=29 December 2017|access-date=10 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104101917/https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/01/04/2018-00099/national-slavery-and-human-trafficking-prevention-month-2018|archive-date=4 January 2018}} [https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-01-04/pdf/2018-00099.pdf Alt URL]</ref>

== Involvement == [[Mexico]] was the first country in the world to join back in April 2010.<ref name=mex>{{cite web | title = Mexico leads countries in UN Blue Heart human trafficking campaign | publisher = [[UN News Centre]] | url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=34383#.UWxl145yF0o | access-date = 15 April 2013}}</ref> Spain followed Mexico's example and joined the Campaign in June 2010, becoming the first European country to join.<ref name=spain>{{cite web | title = Spain joins campaign against human trafficking | publisher = [[United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime]] | url=https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2010/June/people-for-sale-in-europe-as-spain-joins-campaign-against-human-trafficking.html | access-date = 15 April 2013}}</ref> In April 2012, Portugal joined the list of countries supporting the campaign. It was launched by Teresa Morais, Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Equality, Manuel Albano, Portuguese National Rapporteur for Human Trafficking, and Pierre Lapaque, Chief of the UNODC Organized Crime Unit.<ref name=port>{{cite web | title = Portugal joins Blue Heart campaign against human trafficking | publisher = [[United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime]] | url=https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2012/April/portugal-joins-blue-heart-campaign-against-human-trafficking.html | access-date = 15 April 2013}}</ref> Word about Blue Heart has spanned the globe and many organizations are getting involved. A student organization at the University of South Florida called N.I.T.E. (Necessary Improvements to Transform the Environment) participated in the campaign in February 2012 to support two fellow students that had survived human trafficking.<ref name=usf>{{cite web | title = N.I.T.E. launches Blue Heart Campaign | publisher = [[University of South Florida]] | url = http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=4190 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161105035331/http://news.usf.edu/article/templates/?a=4190 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 5 November 2016 | access-date = 15 April 2013 }}</ref> In April 2009, the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) and its Blue Blindfold Campaign entered into a strategic partnership with the UNODC and the Blue Heart Campaign to promote each other's campaigns, aiming specifically to present a clear public image of their complementary relationship while clarifying their two very distinct functions.<ref name=bbc>{{cite web | title = Strategic partnership between UKHTC's Blue Blindfold Campaign and the UNODC's Blue Heart Campaign | publisher = [[Blue Blindfold Campaign]] | url = http://www.blueblindfold.co.uk/news/unodc-strategic-partnership.php | access-date = 15 April 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130511072231/http://www.blueblindfold.co.uk/news/unodc-strategic-partnership.php | archive-date = 11 May 2013 }}</ref>

== Increased enforcement efforts in Europe == In 2011 the [[European Union]] adopted the legislation Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims.<ref name="unric"/> It aims to make legislation and penalties more effective, ensuring successful prevention and prosecution on trafficking as well as enhanced protection of, and assistance to, victims.<ref name="unric"/> In December 2011, the [[European Commission]] appointed Myria Vassilliadou as Anti-Trafficking Coordinator with a view to improving coordination and coherence between EU institutions and agencies as well as with Member States and international actors.<ref name="unric"/> The establishment of the coordinator also aims to provide for an overall strategic and policy orientation.<ref name="unric"/> By bringing together prevention, [[law enforcement]], and victim protection, she will ensure that all appropriate means for EU action against trafficking are adequately used and mobilized.<ref name="unric"/> The European Police Office (Europol) assists EU Member States in their fight against serious and organized crime.<ref name="unric"/> Trafficking in human beings is one of Europol's mandated crime areas.<ref name="unric"/> In its 2011 report 'Trafficking in Human Beings in the European Union,' Europol concludes that "the positive steps taken by many Member States and the EU to prevent and combat trafficking in Europe have ensured that the current level of response in tackling this crime has never been higher. Lengthy prison sentences for convicted traffickers are now routine in some countries, the levels of awareness amongst law enforcement and the [[judiciary]] have been raised, victim protection and support is prioritized and national action plans provide clear examples of Member State strategy and intent. The investigation of labor exploitation is now firmly on the agenda of many countries and again indicates the willingness of countries to recognize, adapt to and combat new forms of trafficking. However, based on current reporting, intelligence, trends and patterns, it is unlikely that there will be any immediate reduction in the levels of trafficking of human beings in Europe. This crime will continue to have a major impact on the EU".<ref name="unric"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Organizations that combat human trafficking]]