Palermoprotokol

Palermoprotokol refers to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, which supplements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (the Palermo Protocol). It was adopted in Palermo on December 12, 2000 and opened for signature the same year. The protocol entered into force on December 25, 2003. It is one of the three Palermo Protocols, a set designed to address different aspects of organized crime, the others addressing smuggling of migrants and transnational crime more generally.

Purpose and scope

The protocol defines trafficking in persons as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, the abuse of power or a position of vulnerability, or the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person. It covers exploitation, including at least prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or similar practices, and the removal of organs.

Key obligations

State parties are required to criminalize trafficking, establish penalties, and take measures to protect, assist and provide for victims. They must ensure non-punishment of victims for offenses committed as a result of being trafficked, offer support services, and promote safe repatriation when appropriate. The protocol also obligates states to cooperate—through extradition, mutual legal assistance, and information sharing—and to develop national strategies, data collection, and training for law enforcement and judicial authorities.

Impact and reception

The Palermo Protocol has been widely ratified and forms a central international framework for anti-trafficking law. Its implementation varies by country and is frequently complemented by regional agreements and national legislation. Critics note gaps in victim protection, resources for enforcement, and challenges in balancing anti-trafficking aims with migrants’ rights.