Resolução da Assembleia da República n.º 1/2008 — Aprova a Convenção do Conselho da Europa Relativa à Luta contra o Tráfico de Seres Humanos, aberta à assinatura em…

Aprova a Convenção do Conselho da Europa Relativa à Luta contra o Tráfico de Seres Humanos, aberta à assinatura em Varsóvia em 16 de Maio de 2005.

A Assembleia da República resolve, nos termos da alínea i) do artigo 161.º e do n.º 5 do artigo 166.º da Constituição, o seguinte:

Artigo 1.º

Aprovar a Convenção Relativa à Luta contra o Tráfico de Seres Humanos do Conselho da Europa, aberta à assinatura em Varsóvia em 16 de Maio de 2005 e assinada por Portugal na respectiva data de abertura, cujo texto, na versão autêntica nas línguas inglesa e francesa, assim como a respectiva tradução para língua portuguesa, se publicam em anexo.

Artigo 2.º

Nos termos do n.º 2 do artigo 31.º é formulada a seguinte reserva:

«Relativamente às competências previstas nas alíneas d) e e) do n.º 1 do artigo 31.º, a República Portuguesa declara que não aplicará as normas de competência aí estabelecidas, em virtude da legislação penal portuguesa estabelecer critérios de competência mais rigorosos e abrangentes do que os previstos nas alíneas supra-referidas.»

Aprovada em 4 de Outubro de 2007.

O Presidente da Assembleia da República, Jaime Gama.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE CONVENTION ON ACTION AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS

Preamble

The member States of the Council of Europe and the other Signatories hereto:

Considering that the aim of the Council of Europe is to achieve a greater unity between its members;

Considering that trafficking in human beings constitutes a violation of human rights and an offence to the dignity and the integrity of the human being;

Considering that trafficking in human beings may result in slavery for victims;

Considering that respect for victims' rights, protection of victims and action to combat trafficking in human beings must be the paramount objectives;

Considering that all actions or initiatives against trafficking in human beings must be non discriminatory, take gender equality into account as well as a child-rights approach;

Recalling the declarations by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Member States at the 112th (14-15 May 2003) and the 114th (12-13 May 2004) Sessions of the Committee of Ministers calling for reinforced action by the Council of Europe on trafficking in human beings;

Bearing in mind the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1950) and its protocols;

Bearing in mind the following recommendations of the Committee of Ministers to member states of the Council of Europe: Recommendation R (91) 11 on sexual exploitation, pornography and prostitution of, and trafficking in, children and young adults; Recommendation R (97) 13 concerning intimidation of witnesses and the rights of the defence; Recommendation R (2000) 11 on action against trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation and Recommendation Rec (2001) 16 on the protection of children against sexual exploitation; Recommendation Rec (2002) 5 on the protection of women against violence;

Bearing in mind the following recommendations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe: Recommendation 1325 (1997) on traffic in women and forced prostitution in Council of Europe member states; Recommendation 1450 (2000) on violence against women in Europe; Recommendation 1545 (2002) on a campaign against trafficking in women; Recommendation 1610 (2003) on migration connected with trafficking in women and prostitution; Recommendation 1611 (2003) on trafficking in organs in Europe; Recommendation 1663 (2004) Domestic slavery: servitude, au pairs and mail-order brides;

Bearing in mind the European Union Council Framework Decision of 19 July 2002 on combating trafficking in human beings, the European Union Council Framework Decision of 15 March 2001 on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings and the European Union Council Directive of 29 April 2004 on the residence permit issued to third-country nationals who are victims of trafficking in human beings or who have been the subject of an action to facilitate illegal immigration, who cooperate with the competent authorities;

Taking due account of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocol thereto to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children with a view to improving the protection which they afford and developing the standards established by them;

Taking due account of the other international legal instruments relevant in the field of action against trafficking in human beings;

Taking into account the need to prepare a comprehensive international legal instrument focusing on the human rights of victims of trafficking and setting up a specific monitoring mechanism;

have agreed as follows:

CHAPTER I

Purposes, scope, non-discrimination principle and definitions

Article 1

Purposes of the Convention

1 - The purposes of this Convention are:

2 - In order to ensure effective implementation of its provisions by the Parties, this Convention sets up a specific monitoring mechanism.

Article 2

Scope

This Convention shall apply to all forms of trafficking in human beings, whether national or transnational, whether or not connected with organised crime.

Article 3

Non-discrimination principle

The implementation of the provisions of this Convention by Parties, in particular the enjoyment of measures to protect and promote the rights of victims, shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.

Article 4

Definitions

For the purposes of this Convention:

CHAPTER II

Prevention, co-operation and other measures

Article 5

Prevention of trafficking in human beings

1 - Each Party shall take measures to establish or strengthen national co-ordination between the various bodies responsible for preventing and combating trafficking in human beings.

2 - Each Party shall establish and/or strengthen effective policies and programmes to prevent trafficking in human beings, by such means as: research, information, awareness raising and education campaigns, social and economic initiatives and training programmes, in particular for persons vulnerable to trafficking and for professionals concerned with trafficking in human beings.

3 - Each Party shall promote a human rights-based approach and shall use gender mainstreaming and a childsensitive approach in the development, implementation and assessment of all the policies and programmes referred to in paragraph 2.

4 - Each Party shall take appropriate measures, as may be necessary, to enable migration to take place legally, in particular through dissemination of accurate information by relevant offices, on the conditions enabling the legal entry in and stay on its territory.

5 - Each Party shall take specific measures to reduce children's vulnerability to trafficking, notably by creating a protective environment for them.

6 - Measures established in accordance with this article shall involve, where appropriate, non-governmental organisations, other relevant organisations and other elements of civil society committed to the prevention of trafficking in human beings and victim protection or assistance.

Article 6

Measures to discourage the demand

To discourage the demand that fosters all forms of exploitation of persons, especially women and children, that leads to trafficking, each Party shall adopt or strengthen legislative, administrative, educational, social, cultural or other measures including:

Article 7

Border measures

1 - Without prejudice to international commitments in relation to the free movement of persons, Parties shall strengthen, to the extent possible, such border controls as may be necessary to prevent and detect trafficking in human beings.

2 - Each Party shall adopt legislative or other appropriate measures to prevent, to the extent possible, means of transport operated by commercial carriers from being used in the commission of offences established in accordance with this Convention.

3 - Where appropriate, and without prejudice to applicable international conventions, such measures shall include establishing the obligation of commercial carriers, including any transportation company or the owner or operator of any means of transport, to ascertain that all passengers are in possession of the travel documents required for entry into the receiving State.

4 - Each Party shall take the necessary measures, in accordance with its internal law, to provide for sanctions in cases of violation of the obligation set forth in paragraph 3 of this article.

5 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to permit, in accordance with its internal law, the denial of entry or revocation of visas of persons implicated in the commission of offences established in accordance with this Convention.

6 - Parties shall strengthen co-operation among border control agencies by, inter alia, establishing and maintaining direct channels of communication.

Article 8

Security and control of documents

Each Party shall adopt such measures as may be necessary:

Article 9

Legitimacy and validity of documents

At the request of another Party, a Party shall, in accordance with its internal law, verify within a reasonable time the legitimacy and validity of travel or identity documents issued or purported to have been issued in its name and suspected of being used for trafficking in human beings.

CHAPTER III

Measures to protect and promote the rights of victims, guaranteeing gender equality

Article 10

Identification of the victims

1 - Each Party shall provide its competent authorities with persons who are trained and qualified in preventing and combating trafficking in human beings, in identifying and helping victims, including children, and shall ensure that the different authorities collaborate with each other as well as with relevant support organisations, so that victims can be identified in a procedure duly taking into account the special situation of women and child victims and, in appropriate cases, issued with residence permits under the conditions provided for in article 14 of the present Convention.

2 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to identify victims as appropriate in collaboration with other Parties and relevant support organisations. Each Party shall ensure that, if the competent authorities have reasonable grounds to believe that a person has been victim of trafficking in human beings, that person shall not be removed from its territory until the identification process as victim of an offence provided for in article 18 of this Convention has been completed by the competent authorities and shall likewise ensure that that person receives the assistance provided for in article 12, paragraphs 1 and 2.

3 - When the age of the victim is uncertain and there are reasons to believe that the victim is a child, he or she shall be presumed to be a child and shall be accorded special protection measures pending verification of his/her age.

4 - As soon as an unaccompanied child is identified as a victim, each Party shall:

Article 11

Protection of private life

1 - Each Party shall protect the private life and identity of victims. Personal data regarding them shall be stored and used in conformity with the conditions provided for by the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (ETS n.º 108).

2 - Each Party shall adopt measures to ensure, in particular, that the identity, or details allowing the identification, of a child victim of trafficking are not made publicly known, through the media or by any other means, except, in exceptional circumstances, in order to facilitate the tracing of family members or otherwise secure the well-being and protection of the child.

3 - Each Party shall consider adopting, in accordance with article 10 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms as interpreted by the European Court of Human Rights, measures aimed at encouraging the media to protect the private life and identity of victims through self-regulation or through regulatory or co-regulatory measures.

Article 12

Assistance to victims

1 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to assist victims in their physical, psychological and social recovery. Such assistance shall include at least:

2 - Each Party shall take due account of the victim's safety and protection needs.

3 - In addition, each Party shall provide necessary medical or other assistance to victims lawfully resident within its territory who do not have adequate resources and need such help.

4 - Each Party shall adopt the rules under which victims lawfully resident within its territory shall be authorised to have access to the labour market, to vocational training and education.

5 - Each Party shall take measures, where appropriate and under the conditions provided for by its internal law, to co-operate with non-governmental organisations, other relevant organisations or other elements of civil society engaged in assistance to victims.

6 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to ensure that assistance to a victim is not made conditional on his or her willingness to act as a witness.

7 - For the implementation of the provisions set out in this article, each Party shall ensure that services are provided on a consensual and informed basis, taking due account of the special needs of persons in a vulnerable position and the rights of children in terms of accommodation, education and appropriate health care.

Article 13

Recovery and reflection period

1 - Each Party shall provide in its internal law a recovery and reflection period of at least 30 days, when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person concerned is a victim. Such a period shall be sufficient for the person concerned to recover and escape the influence of traffickers and or to take an informed decision on cooperating with the competent authorities. During this period it shall not be possible to enforce any expulsion order against him or her. This provision is without prejudice to the activities carried out by the competent authorities in all phases of the relevant national proceedings, and in particular when investigating and prosecuting the offences concerned. During this period, the Parties shall authorise the persons concerned to stay in their territory.

2 - During this period, the persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this article shall be entitled to the measures contained in article 12, paragraphs 1 and 2.

3 - The Parties are not bound to observe this period if grounds of public order prevent it or if it is found that victim status is being claimed improperly.

Article 14

Residence permit

1 - Each Party shall issue a renewable residence permit to victims, in one or other of the two following situations or in both:

2 - The residence permit for child victims, when legally necessary, shall be issued in accordance with the best interests of the child and, where appropriate, renewed under the same conditions.

3 - The non-renewal or withdrawal of a residence permit is subject to the conditions provided for by the internal law of the Party.

4 - If a victim submits an application for another kind of residence permit, the Party concerned shall take into account that he or she holds, or has held, a residence permit in conformity with paragraph 1.

5 - Having regard to the obligations of Parties to which article 40 of this Convention refers, each Party shall ensure that granting of a permit according to this provision shall be without prejudice to the right to seek and enjoy asylum.

Article 15

Compensation and legal redress

1 - Each Party shall ensure that victims have access, as from their first contact with the competent authorities, to information on relevant judicial and administrative proceedings in a language which they can understand.

2 - Each Party shall provide, in its internal law, for the right to legal assistance and to free legal aid for victims under the conditions provided by its internal law.

3 - Each Party shall provide, in its internal law, for the right of victims to compensation from the perpetrators.

4 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to guarantee compensation for victims in accordance with the conditions under its internal law, for instance through the establishment of a fund for victim compensation or measures or programmes aimed at social assistance and social integration of victims, which could be funded by the assets resulting from the application of measures provided in article 23.

Article 16

Repatriation and return of victims

1 - The Party of which a victim is a national or in which that person had the right of permanent residence at the time of entry into the territory of the receiving Party shall, with due regard for his or her rights, safety and dignity, facilitate and accept, his or her return without undue or unreasonable delay.

2 - When a Party returns a victim to another State, such return shall be with due regard for the rights, safety and dignity of that person and for the status of any legal proceedings related to the fact that the person is a victim, and shall preferably be voluntary.

3 - At the request of a receiving Party, a requested Party shall verify whether a person is its national or had the right of permanent residence in its territory at the time of entry into the territory of the receiving Party.

4 - In order to facilitate the return of a victim who is without proper documentation, the Party of which that person is a national or in which he or she had the right of permanent residence at the time of entry into the territory of the receiving Party shall agree to issue, at the request of the receiving Party, such travel documents or other authorisation as may be necessary to enable the person to travel to and re-enter its territory.

5 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to establish repatriation programmes, involving relevant national or international institutions and non governmental organisations. These programmes aim at avoiding re-victimisation. Each Party should make its best effort to favour the reintegration of victims into the society of the State of return, including reintegration into the education system and the labour market, in particular through the acquisition and improvement of their professional skills. With regard to children, these programmes should include enjoyment of the right to education and measures to secure adequate care or receipt by the family or appropriate care structures.

6 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to make available to victims, where appropriate in co-operation with any other Party concerned, contact information of structures that can assist them in the country where they are returned or repatriated, such as law enforcement offices, non-governmental organisations, legal professions able to provide counselling and social welfare agencies.

7 - Child victims shall not be returned to a State, if there is indication, following a risk and security assessment, that such return would not be in the best interests of the child.

Article 17

Gender equality

Each Party shall, in applying measures referred to in this chapter, aim to promote gender equality and use gender mainstreaming in the development, implementation and assessment of the measures.

CHAPTER IV

Substantive criminal law

Article 18

Criminalisation of trafficking in human beings

Each Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences the conduct contained in article 4 of this Convention, when committed intentionally.

Article 19

Criminalisation of the use of services of a victim

Each Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences under its internal law, the use of services which are the object of exploitation as referred to in article 4, paragraph a), of this Convention, with the knowledge that the person is a victim of trafficking in human beings.

Article 20

Criminalisation of acts relating to travel or identity documents

Each Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences the following conducts, when committed intentionally and for the purpose of enabling the trafficking in human beings:

Article 21

Attempt and aiding or abetting

1 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences when committed intentionally, aiding or abetting the commission of any of the offences established in accordance with articles 18 and 20 of the present Convention.

2 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences when committed intentionally, an attempt to commit the offences established in accordance with articles 18 and 20, paragraph a), of this Convention.

Article 22

Corporate liability

1 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to ensure that a legal person can be held liable for a criminal offence established in accordance with this Convention, committed for its benefit by any natural person, acting either individually or as part of an organ of the legal person, who has a leading position within the legal person, based on:

2 - Apart from the cases already provided for in paragraph 1, each Party shall take the measures necessary to ensure that a legal person can be held liable where the lack of supervision or control by a natural person referred to in paragraph 1 has made possible the commission of a criminal offence established in accordance with this Convention for the benefit of that legal person by a natural person acting under its authority.

3 - Subject to the legal principles of the Party, the liability of a legal person may be criminal, civil or administrative.

4 - Such liability shall be without prejudice to the criminal liability of the natural persons who have committed the offence.

Article 23

Sanctions and measures

1 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to ensure that the criminal offences established in accordance with articles 18 to 21 are punishable by effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions. These sanctions shall include, for criminal offences established in accordance with article 18 when committed by natural persons, penalties involving deprivation of liberty which can give rise to extradition.

2 - Each Party shall ensure that legal persons held liable in accordance with article 22 shall be subject to effective, proportionate and dissuasive criminal or non-criminal sanctions or measures, including monetary sanctions.

3 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to enable it to confiscate or otherwise deprive the instrumentalities and proceeds of criminal offences established in accordance with articles 18 and 20, paragraph a), of this Convention, or property the value of which corresponds to such proceeds.

4 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to enable the temporary or permanent closure of any establishment which was used to carry out trafficking in human beings, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties or to deny the perpetrator, temporary or permanently, the exercise of the activity in the course of which this offence was committed.

Article 24

Aggravating circumstances

Each Party shall ensure that the following circumstances are regarded as aggravating circumstances in the determination of the penalty for offences established in accordance with article 18 of this Convention:

Article 25

Previous convictions

Each Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures providing for the possibility to take into account final sentences passed by another Party in relation to offences established in accordance with this Convention when determining the penalty.

Article 26

Non-punishment provision

Each Party shall, in accordance with the basic principles of its legal system, provide for the possibility of not imposing penalties on victims for their involvement in unlawful activities, to the extent that they have been compelled to do so.

Chapter V

Investigation, prosecution and procedural law

Article 27

Ex parte and ex officio applications

1 - Each Party shall ensure that investigations into or prosecution of offences established in accordance with this Convention shall not be dependent upon the report or accusation made by a victim, at least when the offence was committed in whole or in part on its territory.

2 - Each Party shall ensure that victims of an offence in the territory of a Party other than the one where they reside may make a complaint before the competent authorities of their State of residence. The competent authority to which the complaint is made, insofar as it does not itself have competence in this respect, shall transmit it without delay to the competent authority of the Party in the territory in which the offence was committed. The complaint shall be dealt with in accordance with the internal law of the Party in which the offence was committed.

3 - Each Party shall ensure, by means of legislative or other measures, in accordance with the conditions provided for by its internal law, to any group, foundation, association or non-governmental organisations which aims at fighting trafficking in human beings or protection of human rights, the possibility to assist and/or support the victim with his or her consent during criminal proceedings concerning the offence established in accordance with article 18 of this Convention.

Article 28

Protection of victims, witnesses and collaborators with the judicial authorities

1 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to provide effective and appropriate protection from potential retaliation or intimidation in particular during and after investigation and prosecution of perpetrators, for:

2 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to ensure and to offer various kinds of protection. This may include physical protection, relocation, identity change and assistance in obtaining jobs.

3 - A child victim shall be afforded special protection measures taking into account the best interests of the child.

4 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to provide, when necessary, appropriate protection from potential retaliation or intimidation in particular during and after investigation and prosecution of perpetrators, for members of groups, foundations, associations or non-governmental organisations which carry out the activities set out in article 27, paragraph 3.

5 - Each Party shall consider entering into agreements or arrangements with other States for the implementation of this article.

Article 29

Specialised authorities and co-ordinating bodies

1 - Each Party shall adopt such measures as may be necessary to ensure that persons or entities are specialised in the fight against trafficking and the protection of victims. Such persons or entities shall have the necessary independence in accordance with the fundamental principles of the legal system of the Party, in order for them to be able to carry out their functions effectively and free from any undue pressure. Such persons or the staffs of such entities shall have adequate training and financial resources for their tasks.

2 - Each Party shall adopt such measures as may be necessary to ensure co-ordination of the policies and actions of their governments' departments and other public agencies against trafficking in human beings, where appropriate, through setting up co-ordinating bodies.

3 - Each Party shall provide or strengthen training for relevant officials in the prevention of and fight against trafficking in human beings, including human rights training. The training may be agency-specific and shall, as appropriate, focus on: methods used in preventing such trafficking, prosecuting the traffickers and protecting the rights of the victims, including protecting the victims from the traffickers.

4 - Each Party shall consider appointing National Rapporteurs or other mechanisms for monitoring the anti-trafficking activities of State institutions and the implementation of national legislation requirements.

Article 30

Court proceedings

In accordance with the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, in particular article 6, each Party shall adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to ensure in the course of judicial proceedings:

in accordance with the conditions under its internal law and, in the case of child victims, by taking special care of children's needs and ensuring their right to special protection measures.

Article 31

Jurisdiction

1 - Each Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish jurisdiction over any offence established in accordance with this Convention, when the offence is committed:

2 - Each Party may, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, by a declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, declare that it reserves the right not to apply or to apply only in specific cases or conditions the jurisdiction rules laid down in paragraphs 1, d) and e), of this article or any part thereof.

3 - Each Party shall adopt such measures as may be necessary to establish jurisdiction over the offences referred to in this Convention, in cases where an alleged offender is present in its territory and it does not extradite him/her to another Party, solely on the basis of his/her nationality, after a request for extradition.

4 - When more than one Party claims jurisdiction over an alleged offence established in accordance with this Convention, the Parties involved shall, where appropriate, consult with a view to determining the most appropriate jurisdiction for prosecution.

5 - Without prejudice to the general norms of international law, this Convention does not exclude any criminal jurisdiction exercised by a Party in accordance with internal law.

CHAPTER VI

International co-operation and co-operation with civil society

Article 32

General principles and measures for international co-operation

The Parties shall co-operate with each other, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, and through application of relevant applicable international and regional instruments, arrangements agreed on the basis of uniform or reciprocal legislation and internal laws, to the widest extent possible, for the purpose of:

Preventing and combating trafficking in human beings;

Protecting and providing assistance to victims;

Investigations or proceedings concerning criminal offences established in accordance with this Convention.

Article 33

Measures relating to endangered or missing persons

1 - When a Party, on the basis of the information at its disposal, has reasonable grounds to believe that the life, the freedom or the physical integrity of a person referred to in article 28, paragraph 1, is in immediate danger on the territory of another Party, the Party that has the information shall, in such a case of emergency, transmit it without delay to the latter so as to take the appropriate protection measures.

2 - The Parties to this Convention may consider reinforcing their co-operation in the search for missing people, in particular for missing children, if the information available leads them to believe that she/he is a victim of trafficking in human beings. To this end, the Parties may conclude bilateral or multilateral treaties with each other.

Article 34

Information

1 - The requested Party shall promptly inform the requesting Party of the final result of the action taken under this chapter. The requested Party shall also promptly inform the requesting Party of any circumstances which render impossible the carrying out of the action sought or are likely to delay it significantly.

2 - A Party may, within the limits of its internal law, without prior request, forward to another Party information obtained within the framework of its own investigations when it considers that the disclosure of such information might assist the receiving Party in initiating or carrying out investigations or proceedings concerning criminal offences established in accordance with this Convention or might lead to a request for co-operation by that Party under this chapter.

3 - Prior to providing such information, the providing Party may request that it be kept confidential or used subject to conditions. If the receiving Party cannot comply with such request, it shall notify the providing Party, which shall then determine whether the information should nevertheless be provided. If the receiving Party accepts the information subject to the conditions, it shall be bound by them.

4 - All information requested concerning articles 13, 14 and 16, necessary to provide the rights conferred by these articles, shall be transmitted at the request of the Party concerned without delay with due respect to article 11 of the present Convention.

Article 35

Co-operation with civil society

Each Party shall encourage state authorities and public officials to co-operate with non-governmental organisations, other relevant organisations and members of civil society, in establishing strategic partnerships with the aim of achieving the purpose of this Convention.

CHAPTER VII

Monitoring mechanism

Article 36

Group of experts on action against trafficking in human beings

1 - The group of experts on action against trafficking in human beings (hereinafter referred to as «GRETA»), shall monitor the implementation of this Convention by the Parties.

2 - GRETA shall be composed of a minimum of 10 members and a maximum of 15 members, taking into account a gender and geographical balance, as well as a multidisciplinary expertise. They shall be elected by the Committee of the Parties for a term of office of 4 years, renewable once, chosen from amongst nationals of the States Parties to this Convention.

3 - The election of the members of GRETA shall be based on the following principles:

4 - The election procedure of the members of GRETA shall be determined by the Committee of Ministers, after consulting with and obtaining the unanimous consent of the Parties to the Convention, within a period of one year following the entry into force of this Convention. GRETA shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

Article 37

Committee of the Parties

1 - The Committee of the Parties shall be composed of the representatives on the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe of the member States Parties to the Convention and representatives of the Parties to the Convention, which are not members of the Council of Europe.

2 - The Committee of the Parties shall be convened by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Its first meeting shall be held within a period of one year following the entry into force of this Convention in order to elect the members of GRETA. It shall subsequently meet whenever one-third of the Parties, the President of GRETA or the Secretary General so requests.

3 - The Committee of the Parties shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

Article 38

Procedure

1 - The evaluation procedure shall concern the Parties to the Convention and be divided in rounds, the length of which is determined by GRETA. At the beginning of each round GRETA shall select the specific provisions on which the evaluation procedure shall be based.

2 - GRETA shall define the most appropriate means to carry out this evaluation. GRETA may in particular adopt a questionnaire for each evaluation round, which may serve as a basis for the evaluation of the implementation by the Parties of the present Convention. Such a questionnaire shall be addressed to all Parties. Parties shall respond to this questionnaire, as well as to any other request of information from GRETA.

3 - GRETA may request information from civil society.

4 - GRETA may subsidiarily organise, in co-operation with the national authorities and the «contact person» appointed by the latter, and, if necessary, with the assistance of independent national experts, country visits. During these visits, GRETA may be assisted by specialists in specific fields.

5 - GRETA shall prepare a draft report containing its analysis concerning the implementation of the provisions on which the evaluation is based, as well as its suggestions and proposals concerning the way in which the Party concerned may deal with the problems which have been identified. The draft report shall be transmitted for comments to the Party which undergoes the evaluation. Its comments are taken into account by GRETA when establishing its report.

6 - On this basis, GRETA shall adopt its report and conclusions concerning the measures taken by the Party concerned to implement the provisions of the present Convention. This report and conclusions shall be sent to the Party concerned and to the Committee of the Parties. The report and conclusions of GRETA shall be made public as from their adoption, together with eventual comments by the Party concerned.

7 - Without prejudice to the procedure of paragraphs 1 to 6 of this article, the Committee of the Parties may adopt, on the basis of the report and conclusions of GRETA, recommendations addressed to this Party: a) concerning the measures to be taken to implement the conclusions of GRETA, if necessary setting a date for submitting information on their implementation; and b) aiming at promoting co-operation with that Party for the proper implementation of the present Convention.

CHAPTER VIII

Relationship with other international instruments

Article 39

Relationship with the Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against transnational organised crime.

This Convention shall not affect the rights and obligations derived from the provisions of the Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against transnational organised crime, and is intended to enhance the protection afforded by it and develop the standards contained therein.

Article 40

Relationship with other international instruments

1 - This Convention shall not affect the rights and obligations derived from other international instruments to which Parties to the present Convention are Parties or shall become Parties and which contain provisions on matters governed by this Convention and which ensure greater protection and assistance for victims of trafficking.

2 - The Parties to the Convention may conclude bilateral or multilateral agreements with one another on the matters dealt with in this Convention, for purposes of supplementing or strengthening its provisions or facilitating the application of the principles embodied in it.

3 - Parties which are members of the European Union shall, in their mutual relations, apply Community and European Union rules in so far as there are Community or European Union rules governing the particular subject concerned and applicable to the specific case, without prejudice to the object and purpose of the present Convention and without prejudice to its full application with other Parties.

4 - Nothing in this Convention shall affect the rights, obligations and responsibilities of States and individuals under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law and, in particular, where applicable, the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees and the principle of non-refoulement as contained therein.

CHAPTER IX

Amendments to the Convention

Article 41

Amendments

1 - Any proposal for an amendment to this Convention presented by a Party shall be communicated to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and forwarded by him or her to the member States of the Council of Europe, any signatory, any State Party, the European Community, to any State invited to sign this Convention in accordance with the provisions of article 42 and to any State invited to accede to this Convention in accordance with the provisions of article 43.

2 - Any amendment proposed by a Party shall be communicated to GRETA, which shall submit to the Committee of Ministers its opinion on that proposed amendment.

3 - The Committee of Ministers shall consider the proposed amendment and the opinion submitted by GRETA and, following consultation of the Parties to this Convention and after obtaining their unanimous consent, may adopt the amendment.

4 - The text of any amendment adopted by the Committee of Ministers in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article shall be forwarded to the Parties for acceptance.

5 - Any amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of one month after the date on which all Parties have informed the Secretary General that they have accepted it.

CHAPTER X

Final clauses

Article 42

Signature and entry into force

1 - This Convention shall be open for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe, the non member States which have participated in its elaboration and the European Community.

2 - This Convention is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

3 - This Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date on which 10 signatories, including at least 8 member States of the Council of Europe, have expressed their consent to be bound by the Convention in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

4 - In respect of any State mentioned in paragraph 1 or the European Community, which subsequently expresses its consent to be bound by it, the Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval.

Article 43

Accession to the Convention

1 - After the entry into force of this Convention, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe may, after consultation of the Parties to this Convention and obtaining their unanimous consent, invite any non-member State of the Council of Europe, which has not participated in the elaboration of the Convention, to accede to this Convention by a decision taken by the majority provided for in article 20, d), of the Statute of the Council of Europe, and by unanimous vote of the representatives of the Contracting States entitled to sit on the Committee of Ministers.

2 - In respect of any acceding State, the Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of deposit of the instrument of accession with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Article 44

Territorial application

1 - Any State or the European Community may, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, specify the territory or territories to which this Convention shall apply.

2 - Any Party may, at any later date, by a declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, extend the application of this Convention to any other territory specified in the declaration and for whose international relations it is responsible or on whose behalf it is authorised to give undertakings. In respect of such territory, the Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of receipt of such declaration by the Secretary General.

3 - Any declaration made under the two preceding paragraphs may, in respect of any territory specified in such declaration, be withdrawn by a notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The withdrawal shall become effective on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of receipt of such notification by the Secretary General.

Article 45

Reservations

No reservation may be made in respect of any provision of this Convention, with the exception of the reservation of article 31, paragraph 2.

Article 46

Denunciation

1 - Any Party may, at any time, denounce this Convention by means of a notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

2 - Such denunciation shall become effective on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary General.

Article 47

Notification

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the member States of the Council of Europe, any State signatory, any State Party, the European Community, to any State invited to sign this Convention in accordance with the provisions of article 42 and to any State invited to accede to this Convention in accordance with the provisions of article 43 of:

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Convention.

Done at Warsaw, this 16th day of May 2005, in English and in French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each member State of the Council of Europe, to the non-member States which have participated in the elaboration of this Convention, to the European Community and to any State invited to accede to this Convention.

CONVENTION DU CONSEIL DE L'EUROPE SUR LA LUTTE CONTRE LA TRAITE DES ETRES HUMAINS

Préambule

Les Etats membres du Conseil de l'Europe et les autres signataires de la présente Convention:

Considérant que le but du Conseil de l'Europe est de réaliser une union plus étroite entre ses membres;

Considérant que la traite des êtres humains constitue une violation des droits de la personne humaine et une atteinte à la dignité et à l'intégrité de l'être humain;

Considérant que la traite des êtres humains peut conduire à une situation d'esclavage pour les victimes;

Considérant que le respect des droits des victimes et leur protection, ainsi que la lutte contre la traite des êtres humains doivent être les objectifs primordiaux;

Considérant que toute action ou initiative dans le domaine de la lutte contre la traite des êtres humains doit être non-discriminatoire et prendre en considération l'égalité entre les femmes et les hommes, ainsi qu'une approche fondée sur les droits de l'enfant;

Rappelant les déclarations des Ministres des Affaires étrangères des Etats membres lors des 112e (14 et 15 mai 2003) et 114e (12 et 13 mai 2004) Sessions du Comité des Ministres, appelant à une action renforcée du Conseil de l'Europe dans le domaine de la traite des êtres humains;

Gardant présente à l'esprit la Convention de sauvegarde des Droits de l'Homme et des Libertés fondamentales (1950) et ses Protocoles;

Gardant à l'esprit les recommandations suivantes du Comité des Ministres aux Etats membres du Conseil de l'Europe: Recommandation R (91) 11 sur l'exploitation sexuelle, la pornographie, la prostitution ainsi que la traite d'enfants et de jeunes adultes; Recommandation R (97) 13 sur l'intimidation des témoins et les droits de la défense; Recommandation R (2000) 11 sur la lutte contre la traite des êtres humains aux fins d'exploitation sexuelle; Recommandation Rec (2001) 16 sur la protection des enfants contre l'exploitation sexuelle; Recommandation Rec (2002) 5 sur la protection des femmes contre la violence;

Gardant à l'esprit les recommandations suivantes de l'Assemblée parlementaire du Conseil de l'Europe: Recommandation 1325 (1997) relative à la traite des femmes et à la prostitution forcée dans les Etats membres du Conseil de l'Europe; Recommandation 1450 (2000) sur la violence à l'encontre des femmes en Europe; Recommandation 1545 (2002) campagne contre la traite des femmes; Recommandation 1610 (2003) migrations liées à la traite des femmes et à la prostitution; Recommandation 1611 (2003) trafic d'organes en Europe; Recommandation 1663 (2004) esclavage domestique: servitude, personnes au pair et épouses achetées par correspondance;

Gardant à l'esprit la Décision-cadre du Conseil de l'Union européenne du 19 juillet 2002 relative à la lutte contre la traite des êtres humains; la Décision-cadre du Conseil de l'Union européenne du 15 mars 2001 relative au statut des victimes dans le cadre des procédures pénales et la Directive du Conseil de l'Union européenne du 29 avril 2004 relative au titre de séjour délivré aux ressortissants des Pays tiers qui sont victimes de la traite des êtres humains ou ont fait l'objet d'une aide à l'immigration clandestine et qui coopèrent avec les autorités compétentes;

Tenant dûment compte de la Convention des Nations Unies contre la criminalité transnationale organisée et son Protocole visant à prévenir, réprimer et punir la traite des personnes, en particulier des femmes et des enfants, afin de renforcer la protection assurée par ces instruments et de développer les normes qu'ils énoncent;

Tenant dûment compte des autres instruments juridiques internationaux pertinents dans le domaine de la lutte contre la traite des êtres humains;

Tenant compte du besoin d'élaborer un instrument juridique international global qui soit centré sur les droits de la personne humaine des victimes de la traite et qui mette en place un mécanisme de suivi spécifique;

sont convenus de ce qui suit:

CHAPITRE I

Objet, champ d'application, principe de non-discrimination et définitions

Article 1

Objet de la Convention

1 - La présente Convention a pour objet:

2 - Afin d'assurer une mise en oeuvre efficace de ses dispositions par les Parties, la présente Convention met en place un mécanisme de suivi spécifique.

Article 2

Champ d'application

La présente Convention s'applique à toutes les formes de traite des êtres humains, qu'elles soient nationales ou transnationales et liées ou non à la criminalité organisée.

Article 3

Principe de non-discrimination

La mise en oeuvre de la présente Convention par les Parties, en particulier la jouissance des mesures visant à protéger et promouvoir les droits des victimes, doit être assurée sans discrimination aucune, fondée notamment sur le sexe, la race, la couleur, la langue, la religion, les opinions politiques ou toutes autres opinions, l'origine nationale ou sociale, l'appartenance à une minorité nationale, la fortune, la naissance ou toute autre situation.

Article 4

Définitions

Aux fins de la présente Convention:

CHAPITRE II

Prévention, coopération et autres mesures

Article 5

Prévention de la traite des êtres humains

1 - Chaque Partie prend des mesures pour établir ou renforcer la coordination au plan national entre les différentes instances chargées de la prévention et de la lutte contre la traite des êtres humains.

2 - Chaque Partie établit et ou soutient des politiques et programmes efficaces afin de prévenir la traite des êtres humains par des moyens tels que: des recherches; des campagnes d'information, de sensibilisation et d'éducation; des initiatives sociales et économiques et des programmes de formation, en particulier à l'intention des personnes vulnérables à la traite et des professionnels concernés par la traite des êtres humains.

3 - Chaque Partie promeut une approche fondée sur les droits de la personne humaine et utilise l'approche intégrée de l'égalité entre les femmes et les hommes, ainsi qu'une approche respectueuse des enfants, dans le développement, la mise en oeuvre et l'évaluation de l'ensemble des politiques et programmes mentionnés au paragraphe 2.

4 - Chaque Partie prend les mesures appropriées qui sont nécessaires afin de faire en sorte que les migrations se fassent de manière légale, notamment par la diffusion d'informations exactes par les services concernés, sur les conditions permettant l'entrée et le séjour légaux sur son territoire.

5 - Chaque Partie prend des mesures spécifiques afin de réduire la vulnérabilité des enfants à la traite, notamment en créant un environnement protecteur pour ces derniers.

6 - Les mesures établies conformément au présent article impliquent, le cas échéant, les organisations non gouvernementales, d'autres organisations compétentes et d'autres éléments de la société civile, engagés dans la prévention de la traite des êtres humains, la protection ou l'aide aux victimes.

Article 6

Mesures pour décourager la demande

Afin de décourager la demande qui favorise toutes les formes d'exploitation des personnes, en particulier des femmes et des enfants, aboutissant à la traite, chaque Partie adopte ou renforce des mesures législatives, administratives, éducatives, sociales, culturelles ou autres, y compris:

Article 7

Mesures aux frontières

1 - Sans préjudice des engagements internationaux relatifs à la libre circulation des personnes, les Parties renforcent, dans la mesure du possible, les contrôles aux frontières nécessaires pour prévenir et détecter la traite des êtres humains.

2 - Chaque Partie adopte les mesures législatives ou autres appropriées pour prévenir, dans la mesure du possible, l'utilisation des moyens de transport exploités par des transporteurs commerciaux pour la commission des infractions établies conformément à la présente Convention.

3 - Lorsqu'il y a lieu, et sans préjudice des conventions internationales applicables, ces mesures consistent notamment à prévoir l'obligation pour les transporteurs commerciaux, y compris toute compagnie de transport ou tout propriétaire ou exploitant d'un quelconque moyen de transport, de vérifier que tous les passagers sont en possession des documents de voyage requis pour l'entrée dans l'Etat d'accueil.

4 - Chaque Partie prend les mesures nécessaires, conformément à son droit interne, pour assortir de sanctions l'obligation énoncée au paragraphe 3 du présent article.

5 - Chaque Partie adopte les mesures législatives ou autres nécessaires pour permettre, conformément à son droit interne, de refuser l'entrée de personnes impliquées dans la commission des infractions établies conformément à la présente Convention ou d'annuler leur visa.

6 - Les Parties renforcent la coopération entre leurs services de contrôle aux frontières, notamment par l'établissement et le maintien de voies de communication directes.

Article 8

Sécurité et contrôle des documents

Chaque Partie prend les mesures nécessaires:

Article 9

Légitimité et validité des documents

A la demande d'une autre Partie, une Partie vérifie, conformément à son droit interne et dans un délai raisonnable, la légitimité et la validité des documents de voyage ou d'identité délivrés ou censés avoir été délivrés en son nom et dont on soupçonne qu'ils sont utilisés pour la traite des êtres humains.

CHAPITRE III

Mesures visant à protéger et promouvoir les droits des victimes, en garantissant l'égalité entre les femmes et les hommes

Article 10

Identification des victimes

1 - Chaque Partie s'assure que ses autorités compétentes disposent de personnes formées et qualifiées dans la prévention et la lutte contre la traite des êtres humains et dans l'identification des victimes, notamment des enfants, et dans le soutien à ces dernières et que les différentes autorités concernées collaborent entre elles ainsi qu'avec les organisations ayant un rôle de soutien, afin de permettre d'identifier les victimes dans un processus prenant en compte la situation spécifique des femmes et des enfants victimes et, dans les cas appropriés, de délivrer des permis de séjour suivant les conditions de l'article 14 de la présente Convention.

2 - Chaque Partie adopte les mesures législatives ou autres nécessaires pour identifier les victimes, le cas échéant, en collaboration avec d'autres Parties et avec des organisations ayant un rôle de soutien. Chaque Partie s'assure que, si les autorités compétentes estiment qu'il existe des motifs raisonnables de croire qu'une personne a été victime de la traite des êtres humains, elle ne soit pas éloignée de son territoire jusqu'à la fin du processus d'identification en tant que victime de l'infraction prévue à l'article 18 de la présente Convention par les autorités compétentes et bénéficie de l'assistance prévue à l'article 12, paragraphes 1 et 2.

3 - En cas d'incertitude sur l'âge de la victime et lorsqu'il existe des raisons de croire qu'elle est un enfant, elle est présumée être un enfant et il lui est accordé des mesures de protection spécifiques dans l'attente que son âge soit vérifié.

4 - Dès qu'un enfant est identifié en tant que victime et qu'il est non accompagné, chaque Partie:

Article 11

Protection de la vie privée

1 - Chaque Partie protège la vie privée et l'identité des victimes. Les données à caractère personnel les concernant sont enregistrées et utilisées dans les conditions prévues par la Convention pour la protection des personnes à l'égard du traitement automatisé des données à caractère personnel (STE n.º 108).

2 - En particulier, chaque Partie adopte des mesures afin d'assurer que l'identité, ou les éléments permettant l'identification, d'un enfant victime de la traite ne soient pas rendus publics, que ce soit par les médias ou par d'autres moyens, sauf circonstances exceptionnelles afin de permettre de retrouver des membres de la famille de l'enfant ou d'assurer autrement son bien-être et sa protection.

3 - Chaque Partie envisage de prendre, dans le respect de l'article 10 de la Convention de sauvegarde des Droits de l'Homme et des Libertés fondamentales tel qu'interprété par la Cour européenne des Droits de l'Homme, des mesures en vue d'encourager les médias à sauvegarder la vie privée et l'identité des victimes, à travers l'autorégulation ou par le biais de mesures de régulation ou de co-régulation.

Article 12

Assistance aux victimes

1 - Chaque Partie prend les mesures législatives ou autres nécessaires pour assister les victimes dans leur rétablissement physique, psychologique et social. Une telle assistance comprend au minimum:

2 - Chaque Partie tient dûment compte des besoins en matière de sécurité et de protection des victimes.

3 - En outre, chaque Partie fournit l'assistance médicale nécessaire ou tout autre type d'assistance aux victimes résidant légalement sur son territoire qui ne disposent pas de ressources adéquates et en ont besoin.

4 - Chaque Partie adopte les règles par lesquelles les victimes résidant légalement sur son territoire sont autorisées à accéder au marché du travail, à la formation professionnelle et à l'enseignement.

5 - Chaque Partie prend des mesures, le cas échéant et aux conditions prévues par son droit interne, afin de coopérer avec les organisations non gouvernementales, d'autres organisations compétentes ou d'autres éléments de la société civile, engagés dans l'assistance aux victimes.

6 - Chaque Partie adopte les mesures législatives ou autres nécessaires pour s'assurer que l'assistance à une victime n'est pas subordonnée à sa volonté de témoigner.

7 - Pour la mise en oeuvre des dispositions prévues au présent article, chaque Partie s'assure que les services sont fournis sur une base consensuelle et informée, prenant dûment en compte les besoins spécifiques des personnes en situation vulnérable et les droits des enfants en matière d'hébergement, d'éducation et de soins convenables.

Article 13

Délai de rétablissement et de réflexion

1 - Chaque Partie prévoit dans son droit interne un délai de rétablissement et de réflexion d'au moins 30 jours lorsqu'il existe des motifs raisonnables de croire que la personne concernée est une victime. Ce délai doit être d'une durée suffisante pour que la personne concernée puisse se rétablir et échapper à l'influence des trafiquants et ou prenne, en connaissance de cause, une décision quant à sa coopération avec les autorités compétentes. Pendant ce délai, aucune mesure d'éloignement ne peut être exécutée à son égard. Cette disposition est sans préjudice des activités réalisées par les autorités compétentes dans chacune des phases de la procédure nationale applicable, en particulier pendant l'enquête et la poursuite des faits incriminés. Pendant ce délai, les Parties autorisent le séjour de la personne concernée sur leur territoire.

2 - Pendant ce délai, les personnes visées au paragraphe 1 du présent article ont droit au bénéfice des mesures prévues à l'article 12, paragraphes 1 et 2.

3 - Les Parties ne sont pas tenues au respect de ce délai pour des motifs d'ordre public, ou lorsqu'il apparaît que la qualité de victime est invoquée indûment.

Article 14

Permis de séjour

1 - Chaque Partie délivre un permis de séjour renouvelable aux victimes, soit dans l'une des deux hypothèses suivantes, soit dans les deux:

2 - Lorsqu'il est juridiquement nécessaire, le permis de séjour des enfants victimes est délivré conformément à leur intérêt supérieur et, le cas échéant, renouvelé dans les mêmes conditions.

3 - Le non-renouvellement ou le retrait d'un permis de séjour est soumis aux conditions prévues par le droit interne de la Partie.

4 - Si une victime dépose une demande de titre de séjour d'une autre catégorie, la Partie concernée tient compte du fait que la victime a bénéficié ou bénéficie d'un permis de séjour en vertu du paragraphe 1.

5 - Eu égard aux obligations des Parties visées à l'article 40 de la présente Convention, chaque Partie s'assure que la délivrance d'un permis, conformément à la présente disposition, est sans préjudice du droit de chercher l'asile et d'en bénéficier.

Article 15

Indemnisation et recours

1 - Chaque Partie garantit aux victimes, dès leur premier contact avec les autorités compétentes, l'accès aux informations sur les procédures judiciaires et administratives pertinentes dans une langue qu'elles peuvent comprendre.

2 - Chaque Partie prévoit, dans son droit interne, le droit à l'assistance d'un défenseur et à une assistance juridique gratuite pour les victimes, selon les conditions prévues par son droit interne.

3 - Chaque Partie prévoit, dans son droit interne, le droit pour les victimes à être indemnisées par les auteurs d'infractions.

4 - Chaque Partie adopte les mesures législatives ou autres nécessaires pour faire en sorte que l'indemnisation des victimes soit garantie, dans les conditions prévues dans son droit interne, par exemple par l'établissement d'un fonds pour l'indemnisation des victimes ou d'autres mesures ou programmes destinés à l'assistance et l'intégration sociales des victimes qui pourraient être financés par les avoirs provenant de l'application des mesures prévues à l'article 23.

Article 16

Rapatriement et retour des victimes

1 - La Partie dont une victime est ressortissante ou dans laquelle elle avait le droit de résider à titre permanent au moment de son entrée sur le territoire de la Partie d'accueil facilite et accepte, en tenant dûment compte des droits, de la sécurité et de la dignité de cette personne, le retour de celle-ci sans retard injustifié ou déraisonnable.

2 - Lorsqu'une Partie renvoie une victime dans un autre Etat, ce retour est assuré compte dûment tenu des droits, de la sécurité et de la dignité de la personne et de l'état de toute procédure judiciaire liée au fait qu'elle est une victime et est de préférence volontaire.

3 - A la demande d'une Partie d'accueil, une Partie requise vérifie si une personne est son ressortissant ou avait le droit de résider à titre permanent sur son territoire au moment de son entrée sur le territoire de la Partie d'accueil.

4 - Afin de faciliter le retour d'une victime qui ne possède pas les documents requis, la Partie dont cette personne est ressortissante ou dans laquelle elle avait le droit de résider à titre permanent au moment de son entrée sur le territoire de la Partie d'accueil accepte de délivrer, à la demande de la Partie d'accueil, les documents de voyage ou toute autre autorisation nécessaire pour permettre à la personne de se rendre et d'être réadmise sur son territoire.

5 - Chaque Partie prend les mesures législatives ou autres nécessaires pour mettre en place des programmes de rapatriement avec la participation des institutions nationales ou internationales et des organisations non gouvernementales concernées. Ces programmes visent à éviter la re-victimisation. Chaque Partie devrait déployer tous les efforts pour favoriser la réinsertion des victimes dans la société de l'Etat de retour, y compris la réinsertion dans le système éducatif et le marché du travail, notamment par l'acquisition et l'amélioration de compétences professionnelles. En ce qui concerne les enfants, ces programmes devraient inclure la jouissance du droit à l'éducation, ainsi que des mesures visant à leur assurer le bénéfice d'une prise en charge ou d'un accueil adéquats par leur famille ou des structures d'accueil appropriées.

6 - Chaque Partie prend les mesures législatives ou autres nécessaires pour mettre à la disposition des victimes, le cas échéant en collaboration avec toute Partie concernée, des renseignements sur les instances susceptibles de les aider dans le pays où ces victimes sont retournées ou rapatriées, telles que les services de détection et de répression, les organisations non gouvernementales, les professions juridiques susceptibles de leur donner des conseils et les organismes sociaux.

7 - Les enfants victimes ne sont pas rapatriés dans un Etat, si, à la suite d'une évaluation portant sur les risques et la sécurité, il apparaît que le retour n'est pas dans l'intérêt supérieur de l'enfant.

Article 17

Egalité entre les femmes et les hommes

Lorsqu'elle applique les mesures prévues au présent chapitre, chaque Partie vise à promouvoir l'égalité entre les femmes et les hommes et a recours à l'approche intégrée de l'égalité dans le développement, la mise en oeuvre et l'évaluation de ces mesures.

CHAPITRE IV

Droit pénal matériel

Article 18

Incrimination de la traite des êtres humains

Chaque Partie adopte les mesures législatives et autres nécessaires pour conférer le caractère d'infraction pénale aux actes énoncés à l'article 4 de la présente Convention, lorsqu'ils ont été commis intentionnellement.

Article 19

Incrimination de l'utilisation des services d'une victime

Chaque Partie envisage d'adopter les mesures législatives et autres nécessaires pour conférer le caractère d'infraction pénale, conformément à son droit interne, au fait d'utiliser les services qui font l'objet de l'exploitation visée à l'article 4 paragraphe a de la présente Convention, en sachant que la personne concernée est victime de la traite d'êtres humains.

Article 20

Incrimination des actes relatifs aux documents de voyage ou d'identité

Chaque Partie adopte les mesures législatives et autres nécessaires pour conférer le caractère d'infraction pénale, aux actes ci-après lorsqu'ils ont été commis intentionnellement afin de permettre la traite des êtres humains:

Article 21

Complicité et tentative

1 - Chaque Partie adopte les mesures législatives et autres qui se révèlent nécessaires pour ériger en infraction pénale toute complicité lorsqu'elle est commise intentionnellement en vue de la perpétration d'une des infractions établies en application des articles 18 et 20 de la présente Convention.

2 - Chaque Partie adopte les mesures législatives et autres qui se révèlent nécessaires pour ériger en infraction pénale, toute tentative intentionnelle de commettre l'une des infractions établies en application des articles 18 et 20, paragraphe a), de la présente Convention.

Article 22

Responsabilité des personnes morales

1 - Chaque Partie adopte les mesures législatives et autres qui se révèlent nécessaires pour faire en sorte que les personnes morales puissent être tenues pour responsables des infractions établies en application de la présente Convention, lorsqu'elles sont commises pour leur compte par toute personne physique, agissant soit individuellement, soit en tant que membre d'un organe de la personne morale, qui exerce un pouvoir de direction en son sein, sur les bases suivantes:

2 - Outre les cas déjà prévus au paragraphe 1, chaque Partie adopte les mesures nécessaires pour s'assurer qu'une personne morale puisse être tenue pour responsable lorsque l'absence de surveillance ou de contrôle de la part d'une personne physique mentionnée au paragraphe 1 a rendu possible la commission d'une infraction établie conformément à la présente Convention pour le compte de ladite personne morale par une personne physique agissant sous son autorité.

3 - Selon les principes juridiques de la Partie, la responsabilité d'une personne morale peut être pénale, civile ou administrative.

4 - Cette responsabilité est établie sans préjudice de la responsabilité pénale des personnes physiques ayant commis l'infraction.

Article 23

Sanctions et mesures

1 - Chaque Partie adopte les mesures législatives et autres qui se révèlent nécessaires pour faire en sorte que les infractions pénales établies en application des articles 18 à 21 soient passibles de sanctions effectives, proportionnées et dissuasives. Celles-ci incluent, pour les infractions établies conformément à l'article 18 lorsqu'elles sont commises par des personnes physiques, des sanctions privatives de liberté pouvant donner lieu à l'extradition.

2 - Chaque Partie veille à ce que les personnes morales tenues pour responsables en application de l'article 22 fassent l'objet de sanctions ou mesures pénales ou non pénales effectives, proportionnées et dissuasives, y compris des sanctions pécuniaires.

3 - Chaque Partie adopte les mesures législatives et autres qui se révèlent nécessaires pour lui permettre de confisquer ou de priver autrement des instruments et des produits des infractions pénales établies en vertu des articles 18 et 20, paragraphe a), de la présente Convention, ou des biens dont la valeur correspond à ces produits.

4 - Chaque Partie adopte les mesures législatives ou autres qui se révèlent nécessaires pour permettre la fermeture temporaire ou définitive de tout établissement utilisé pour commettre la traite des êtres humains, sans préjudice des droits des tiers de bonne foi, ou pour interdire à l'auteur de cet infraction, à titre temporaire ou définitif, l'exercice de l'activité à l'occasion de laquelle celle-ci a été commise.

Article 24

Circonstances aggravantes

Chaque Partie fait en sorte que les circonstances suivantes soient considérées comme des circonstances aggravantes dans la détermination de la sanction appliquée aux infractions établies conformément à l'article 18 de la présente Convention: