f) Universities, research and training centers

Universities have a fundamental role in the fight against trafficking. They train future professionals in the political, humanitarian and legal fields (human rights, migration law, social law, business law). As actors in the construction of tomorrow’s world, they can make policies and regulations evolve in favor of the respect of human rights in order to finally eradicate trafficking.

 Universities should continue to organize conferences and carry out research and legislative comparison projects and implementation through legal clinics as the Institute of Peace and Development (UCA) of Nice does through the AJIRE Legal Clinic:

• Mandate 2021 on the implementation of the European Union Directive on combating trafficking in human beings (PDF report + presentation of the report followed by a lecture given by Mr. Michel Veuthey, the Order of Malta’s Ambassador for Combating Trafficking in Persons)

• Mandate 2022 on “Combating forced labor in supply chains: an analysis of EU best practices in corporate due diligence.” This mandate was also given by the Ambassador of the Order of Malta.

The training centers aim to train professionals who wish to develop expertise in trafficking. Professionals (including law enforcement, judicial personnel, social workers, and medical and health personnel) in contact with victims and traffickers need to be trained and continually educated to be able to identify, locate, and intervene with victims and survivors of trafficking. Their training must also be adapted to new technologies and changing criminal practices.

The research centers work on the phenomenon and its evolution, the different processes of exploitation, the physical, psychological and social consequences and their impact on the victims and survivors as well as the links with other related phenomena (migrant trafficking, drug and arms trafficking, etc.).