DISRUPT – Enhance Digital led InvestigationS, pRosecutions and jUdicial resPonses for dismantling Trafficking chains of children

National and European partnerships and capacity building to contribute to the fight against trafficking of children for sexual exploitation.

Context

Trafficking in Human Beings (THB) is one of the most lucrative crimes and most severe violations of fundamental rights in the world with daunting consequences to all parties involved. The identification of victims of trafficking is still relatively low and when done so, authorities rely on testimonies as the main source of evidence. Moreover, the increase of technology-facilitated THB and the higher threat this poses to children, make the need for alternative approaches to dismantling such threats. To respond to the unreliability of the evidence, the high risk of secondary victimisation for testimonies and the safeguarding of children, DISRUPT aims to improve investigations, prosecutions and the judicial response based on digital evidence in the area of trafficking of children paying special attention to the international dimension of the phenomenon.

Objectives

• To identify the state-of-the-art, as well as the gaps of the use of digital evidence regarding cases of THB, especially that of children
• To enhance professionals’ capabilities in terms of digital evidence based investigations, prosecution and judicial response in THB cases, especially when it comes to children.
• To establish guidance for Public-Private-Partnership as a cooperation mechanism for relevant authorities and practitioners to cooperate regarding THB, especially in the case of child victims.
• To raise awareness on the issues of trafficking of children and the potential of digital evidence at national and EU level.

Activities

• Mapping of legislations, cases, gaps and best practices in the field of prevention and countering of human trafficking of children for sexual exploitation, with a special focus on the collection and use of digital evidence.
• Production of a Manual on how to use digital evidence as an advantage in cases of human trafficking with child victims during the criminal procedure.
• National capacity building workshops introducing multidisciplinary with a focus on acquisition, decryption and analysis of digital evidence as well as their admissibility.
• EU level workshops for the exchange of best practices and identification of European-wide solutions.
• Development of a framework for Public-Private Partnership on multi-stakeholder cooperation.
• EU advocacy and awareness raising actions on the prevention and countering of THB including webinars and a Final Conference in Brussels.

Resources

• Desk research findings on legislations, cases, gaps and best practices in the field of prevention and countering of human trafficking of children for sexual exploitation
• Practical insights from field research
• DISRUPT Manual on how to use digital evidence as an advantage in cases of human trafficking with child victims during the criminal procedure
• DISRUPT Events Guidelines and Training materials for capacity building activities
• Public-private partnership (PPP) framework
• DISRUPT Advocacy strategy
• DISRUPT graphic novel

Impact

• Enhanced coordination of law enforcement authorities in cross-border operations and support multi-stakeholders coordinated responses.
• Improved digital skills of law enforcement authorities and expertise in preventing and combating THB, in particular as regards children and sexual exploitation.
• Improved capacity for setting up joint investigations, cross-border referral mechanisms and judicial cooperation in the area of THB, in particular as regards children and sexual exploitation.

Partners

• University of Malta (Malta, coordinator)  
• Law and Internat Foundation (Bulgaria)  
• CESIE ETS (Italy)
• VICESSE (Austria)
• Victim Support Europe (Belgium)