UQ researchers will reveal the myths and realities of human trafficking in Australia at a public forum on September 22.
Presented as part of UQ’s Research Week, the public forum will present the preliminary findings of the research being carried out by the Human Trafficking Working Group at the TC Beirne School of Law.
Headed by Dr Andreas Schloenhardt, the group has been working with government agencies, non government organisations and advocacy groups to identify and analyse reported and suspected cases of human trafficking where Australia has been a destination country.
According to Dr Schloenhardt, the initial findings indicate that persons trafficked for sexual purposes involve both legal and illegal brothels in Australia. Despite the clandestine nature of this crime, human trafficking does not always involve the victims being misled.
“A considerable number of victims arrive in Australia with the knowledge that they will be working in the sex industry”, he said.
“Although some girls claim they were brought to Australia thinking they would be working in the hospitality or retail industries, cases in which women were tricked or otherwise deceived about the nature of their prospective work are infrequent”.
The project will be carried out in two stages, with the first stage identifying the extent in Australia of the phenomenon of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and the second stage involving the development of effective policy recommendations to prevent and suppress the problem at domestic levels.
The project is a joint initiative of the TC Beirne School of Law at The University of Queensland, and the Centre of International Relations at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
The public forum will be held in room 234 of the Parnell Building (Building number 7) at The University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus from 5.00pm to 6.30pm on Monday 22 September 2008.
Media Enquiries and RSVPs to: Andreas Schloenhardt (a.schloenhardt@law.uq.edu.au) or Angus Graham (s4075515@student.uq.edu.au).
More information: Teola Marsh, Acting Marketing Manager, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland
www.law.uq.edu.au
t.marsh@law.uq.edu.au
P: 07 3365 2523
