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Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women

Human Rights
at home, abroad and on the way...

GAATW Logo

Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women

Human Rights
at home, abroad and on the way...

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Cookie Policy

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Privacy Policy

With this privacy policy, the Alliance Against Traffic in Women Foundation (commonly known as Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women - GAATW) would like to inform our website visitors of the nature, scope, and purpose of the personal data we collect, use and process and of the rights to which visitors are entitled.

Who are we?

The Alliance Against Traffic in Women Foundation is a foundation established under Thai law with permit number 151/2543 and official seat at:

191/41, 6th Floor, Sivalai Condominium, Itsaraphap rd

10600 Bangkok

Thailand

Phone: +6628641427

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: http://gaatw.org

What information do we collect on this website:

Cookies

The Internet pages of the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women use cookies. Cookies are text files that are stored in a computer system via an Internet browser.

Through the use of cookies, GAATW can provide the users of this website with more user-friendly services that would not be possible without the cookie setting.

You may, at any time, prevent the setting of cookies through our website by means of a setting of the Internet browser, and may thus permanently deny the setting of cookies. Furthermore, already set cookies may be deleted at any time via an Internet browser or other software programs. This is possible in all popular Internet browsers. If you deactivate the setting of cookies in the Internet browser used, not all functions of our website may be entirely usable.

Collection of general data and information

The website of GAATW collects a series of general data and information when a person visits the website. This general data and information are stored in the server log files. Collected may be (1) the browser types and versions used, (2) the operating system used by the accessing system, (3) the website from which an accessing system reaches our website (so-called referrers), (4) the sub-websites, (5) the date and time of access to the Internet site, (6) an Internet protocol address (IP address), (7) the Internet service provider of the accessing system, and (8) any other similar data and information that may be used in the event of attacks on our information technology systems.

When using these general data and information, GAATW does not draw any conclusions about the visitors. Rather, this information is needed to (1) deliver the content of our website correctly, (2) optimise the content of our website, (3) ensure the long-term viability of our information technology systems and website technology, and (4) provide law enforcement authorities with the information necessary for criminal prosecution in case of a cyber-attack. Therefore, GAATW analyses anonymously collected data and information statistically, with the aim of increasing the data protection and data security of our organisation, and to ensure an optimal level of protection for the personal data we process. The anonymous data of the server log files are stored separately from all personal data provided by a data subject.

Subscription to our e-Bulletin

On our website, users are given the opportunity to subscribe to our quarterly e-Bulletin.

GAATW informs its members and partners regularly by means of an e-Bulletin about its and its members activities. The organisation’s e-Bulletin may only be received by you if (1) you have a valid e-mail address and (2) you register for receiving it. A confirmation e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address registered by a data subject for the first time for receiving the e-Bulletin, for legal reasons, in the double opt-in procedure. This confirmation e-mail is used to prove whether the owner of the e-mail address is authorised to receive the e-Bulletin.

During the registration for the e-Bulletin, we also store the IP address of the computer system assigned by the Internet service provider (ISP) and used at the time of the registration, as well as the date and time of the registration.

The personal data collected as part of a registration for the e-Bulletin will only be used to send our e-Bulletin and other relevant communication, such as new publications. There will be no transfer of personal data collected by the e-Bulletin service to third parties. You can terminate your subscription to our e-Bulletin at any time via a link found in each e-Bulletin.

E-Bulletin-Tracking

The e-Bulletin contains so-called tracking pixels. A tracking pixel is a miniature graphic embedded in such e-mails, which are sent in HTML format to enable log file recording and analysis. This allows a statistical analysis of the success or failure of online marketing campaigns. Based on the embedded tracking pixel, GAATW may see if and when an e-mail was opened, and which links in the e-mail were clicked.

Such personal data collected in the tracking pixels contained in the e-Bulletin are stored and analysed by us in order to optimise the delivery of the e-Bulletin, as well as to adapt the content of future e-Bulletins even better to the interests of our readers. These personal data will not be passed on to third parties.

Data protection provisions about the application and use of Facebook

On our website, we have integrated components of Facebook. The operating company of Facebook is Facebook, Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, United States. If a person lives outside of the United States or Canada, the controller is the Facebook Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland.

With each visit to one of the individual pages of our website, into which a Facebook component (Facebook plug-ins) was integrated, your web browser is automatically prompted to download display of the corresponding Facebook component. During the course of this technical procedure, Facebook is made aware of what specific sub-site of our website was visited.

If you are logged in at the same time on Facebook, Facebook detects with every visit to our website—and for the entire duration of your stay on our website—which specific sub-site of our page was visited. This information is collected through the Facebook component and associated with your respective Facebook account. If you click on one of the Facebook buttons integrated into our website, e.g. the "Like" button, then Facebook matches this information with your personal Facebook user account and stores the personal data.

Facebook always receives, through the Facebook component, information about a visit to our website, whenever you are logged in at the same time on Facebook during your visit to our website. This occurs regardless of whether you click on the Facebook component or not. If such a transmission of information to Facebook is not desirable, then you can prevent this by logging off from your Facebook account before visiting our website.

The data protection guideline published by Facebook, which is available at https://facebook.com/about/privacy/, provides information about the collection, processing and use of personal data by Facebook. In addition, it is explained there what setting options Facebook offers to protect your privacy. In addition, different configuration options are made available to allow the elimination of data transmission to Facebook.

Data protection provisions about the application and use of Twitter

On this website, we have integrated components of Twitter. The operating company of Twitter is Twitter, Inc., 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, UNITED STATES.

With each visit to one of the individual pages of this Internet site on which a Twitter component was integrated, the Internet browser on your system is automatically prompted to download a display of the corresponding component of Twitter. Further information about the Twitter buttons is available under https://about.twitter.com/de/resources/buttons. During the course of this technical procedure, Twitter gains knowledge of what specific sub-page of our website you visited. The purpose of the integration of the Twitter component is a retransmission of the contents of this website to allow our users to introduce this web page to the digital world and increase our visitor numbers.

If you are logged in at the same time on Twitter, Twitter detects which specific sub-page of our Internet page you visited. This information is collected through the Twitter component and associated with your respective Twitter account.

Twitter receives information via the Twitter component that you have visited our website, provided that you are logged in on Twitter at the time of visit to our website. This occurs regardless of whether you click on the Twitter component or not. If such a transmission of information to Twitter is not desirable, then you may prevent this by logging off from your Twitter account before a visit to our website.

The applicable data protection provisions of Twitter may be accessed under https://twitter.com/privacy?lang=en.

Data protection provisions about the application and use of YouTube

On this website, we have integrated components of YouTube. The operating company of YouTube is YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, UNITED STATES. The YouTube, LLC is a subsidiary of Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, UNITED STATES.

With each visit to one of the individual pages of our Internet site, on which a YouTube component (YouTube video or button) is integrated, the Internet browser on your system is automatically prompted to download a display of the corresponding YouTube component. During the course of this technical procedure, YouTube and Google gain knowledge of what specific sub-page of our website you visited.

If you are logged in on YouTube, YouTube recognises with each visit to a sub-page that contains a YouTube video, which specific sub-page of our Internet site you visited. This information is collected by YouTube and Google and assigned to your respective YouTube account.

YouTube and Google will receive information through the YouTube component that you visited our website, if you were logged in on YouTube; this occurs regardless of whether a person clicks on a YouTube video or not. If such a transmission of this information to YouTube and Google is not desirable, the delivery may be prevented if you log off from your YouTube account before visiting our website.

YouTube's data protection provisions, available at https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/, provide information about the collection, processing and use of personal data by YouTube and Google.

How long do we keep your data

We will only retain the data you provide to us through our website for as long as required by applicable laws or as is necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and in accordance with any consents provided. We will delete personal data at the end of this period unless we wish to use it for statistical purposes, in which case we will anonymise it, such that you could never be re-identified with it. You may request a copy of the data we hold about you or request that we delete your data by sending an email to the address specified above.

15 years down the road

Today, there are many more organizations working on trafficking than before and a significant increase in funding for anti-trafficking work. Research has been conducted and reports written on the situation of trafficking virtually in all parts of the world. In 2000, an internationally recognised definition of human trafficking was created, and today many countries are working towards national legislations in accordance with the Palermo Protocol.

Even with such progress, we are still a long way from achieving human rights protection for trafficked persons. Year after year, every report on the situation of trafficking claims that the problem is getting worse. Anyone working on the ground knows that it is incredibly difficult to identify a trafficked person, so how do we actually know or monitor the problem? Reliable statistics on trafficking are scarce, due to the underground nature of the crime.

Migrants continue to take dangerous risks because of a lack of legal and safe channels to find work in another country or a lack of adequate information about the situation in the destination country. This means the risk for trafficking continues. However, many migrant workers whose experience has some elements of trafficking are reluctant to be labelled as a "victim of trafficking" for that would mean immediate or eventual deportation.

Many colleagues are of the opinion that unless a sustained advocacy for the rights of all migrants is launched, human trafficking will continue to increase. Another concern raised by human rights activists is the violation of the rights of migrants, trafficked persons or sex workers caused by zealous anti-trafficking efforts.

It is time we take stock of our work, consolidate the gains and find new strategies to address persistent problems.

back to History >

The Early Years

In the mid-1990s there was no clear definition of trafficking and the treatment meted out by the state and mainstream society to trafficked women was appalling. Rather than receiving assistance and support, the women were being treated as criminals for violating immigration laws and stigmatised by society for having worked in prostitution.

Two clear tasks were identified at the launch of the Alliance:

  • To work towards a clear and unambiguous understanding of trafficking that would inform legislation as well as social action;

  • To ensure that the human rights of trafficked women are protected by law.

The early years of GAATW were years of heady optimism. As Barbara Limanowska, who worked in the GAATW Secretariat in those early years recalls, “Everything looked so simple ten years ago!” It seemed logical that the combined efforts of so many people would go a long way in solving the problems, states would soon formulate adequate legislation on trafficking and NGOs trained in the human rights approach would complement the states.

A multi-country research study led to the conclusion that the issue of trafficking needed to be placed firmly within the context of globalisation, expansion of the informal economy, increase in female labour migration and existing inequalities of gender, race, class and nationalities. Human rights violations were found to be both the cause and consequence of trafficking.

A study of existing international conventions and treaties showed that possible measures for human rights protection of trafficked persons existed in many of those documents, although their implementation was a problem. Activities of the Alliance in the early years included organising human rights training workshops for NGO colleagues, putting together the Human Rights Standard for the Treatment of Trafficked Persons (HRS) and lobbying for an internationally recognised definition of trafficking. Complementing the training and advocacy efforts, feminist participatory action research projects were also carried out to ensure that members of the Alliance did not lose sight of the ground reality.

Why was GAATW launched?

A feminist participatory action research project carried out in Thailand by the Foundation for Women, Bangkok, revealed the complexities around women’s cross border migration, entry into prostitution, sexual and other exploitations. The findings of this study were shared at an international conference in Chiang Mai in 1994. Discussions at the conference found parallels in research studies and direct assistance experiences in other countries. Participants identified problematic areas in the contemporary discourse and activism around trafficking in women. A collective decision was taken to launch the GLOBAL ALLIANCE AGAINST TRAFFIC IN WOMEN.

GAATW started her work by asking simple questions: why do women migrate, why do some of them end up in difficult situations, what indeed are the elements of trafficking, are trafficking and prostitution synonymous and what could be done so that the human rights of women who experience exploitation in migration can be protected.