World Vision welcomes Crimes Act changes to address trafficking in persons
World Vision New Zealand welcomes today’s announcement by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith to amend the Crimes Act and strengthen New Zealand’s laws on trafficking in persons.
The changes will update legal definitions of trafficking, including child trafficking, aligning domestic legislation with international standards—steps that World Vision says are long overdue.
The proposed Crimes Act amendments stem in part from a bill co-authored by World Vision and leading legal experts, Combatting Trafficking in Persons and Modern Day Forms of Slavery.
World Vision’s Head of Advocacy and Justice, Rebekah Armstrong, says the amendments to the Crimes Act are critical to providing justice.
“We are thrilled to see these changes to the Crimes Act which will offer better protection and support to survivors and victims of trafficking and send a strong message to perpetrators that they will be held accountable. This has been a change that has been needed for a long time,” Armstrong says.
She says the current legal system has not been fit for purpose to deal with trafficking offences.
As evidence of this, she cites the fact that only four prosecutions for trafficking have ever made it to New Zealand courts. In the past five years, none have been successful.
Meanwhile, there has never been single case brought for forced labour—despite it being one of the most prevalent forms of modern slavery globally. Furthermore, recent reports show that investigation into people trafficking have surged by almost 4000%, yet no prosecutions have followed.
“New Zealand’s current legal framework has not been fit for purpose and has failed to deliver justice. We’re hopeful that the proposed changes to the Crimes Act will end this discrepancy and traffickers will finally understand they cannot act with impunity in New Zealand,” Armstrong says.
The legislative amendments will also mean New Zealand is closer to meeting the requirements of the United Nation’s Palermo Protocol on human trafficking. This would bring the country into line with others, such as the UK and Canada, in strengthening protection and accountability.
“New Zealand must not be the weak link in global anti-trafficking efforts. These changes mean traffickers can no longer hide behind legal loopholes,” says Armstrong.
The proposed reforms also close a harmful gap in New Zealand’s child protection laws and mean prosecutions for trafficking children can be taken without needing to prove coercion or deception.
“It is unconscionable to have to prove that a child was coerced or deceived if they are a victim of trafficking. Coercion and deception are completely irrelevant when the victim is a child so we’re pleased to see this is no longer a requirement for prosecution.
“Once these changes are introduced and the legal framework is robust, we will begin to be able to understand the prevalence of child trafficking and broader modern slavery offences in New Zealand.”
Armstrong hopes that the proposed changes to the Crimes Act are just the beginning of more comprehensive reform that includes the introduction of a Modern Slavery Act.
Modern slavery is an umbrella term that includes slavery, trafficking in persons, forced and exploitative labour, forced services including prostitution and marriage.
“Once the legal framework for prosecution is right in the Crimes Act, efforts must swiftly move to tackling prevention, victim protection and corporate accountability through modern slavery legislation.
She says World Vision is grateful that the protection framework for victim-survivors of trafficking, especially children, has been strengthened today and hopes that this is just the beginning of a better and fairer system to address modern slavery.
The changes will update legal definitions of trafficking, including child trafficking, aligning domestic legislation with international standards—steps that World Vision says are long overdue.
The proposed Crimes Act amendments stem in part from a bill co-authored by World Vision and leading legal experts, Combatting Trafficking in Persons and Modern Day Forms of Slavery.
World Vision’s Head of Advocacy and Justice, Rebekah Armstrong, says the amendments to the Crimes Act are critical to providing justice.
“We are thrilled to see these changes to the Crimes Act which will offer better protection and support to survivors and victims of trafficking and send a strong message to perpetrators that they will be held accountable. This has been a change that has been needed for a long time,” Armstrong says.
She says the current legal system has not been fit for purpose to deal with trafficking offences.
As evidence of this, she cites the fact that only four prosecutions for trafficking have ever made it to New Zealand courts. In the past five years, none have been successful.
Meanwhile, there has never been single case brought for forced labour—despite it being one of the most prevalent forms of modern slavery globally. Furthermore, recent reports show that investigation into people trafficking have surged by almost 4000%, yet no prosecutions have followed.
“New Zealand’s current legal framework has not been fit for purpose and has failed to deliver justice. We’re hopeful that the proposed changes to the Crimes Act will end this discrepancy and traffickers will finally understand they cannot act with impunity in New Zealand,” Armstrong says.
The legislative amendments will also mean New Zealand is closer to meeting the requirements of the United Nation’s Palermo Protocol on human trafficking. This would bring the country into line with others, such as the UK and Canada, in strengthening protection and accountability.
“New Zealand must not be the weak link in global anti-trafficking efforts. These changes mean traffickers can no longer hide behind legal loopholes,” says Armstrong.
The proposed reforms also close a harmful gap in New Zealand’s child protection laws and mean prosecutions for trafficking children can be taken without needing to prove coercion or deception.
“It is unconscionable to have to prove that a child was coerced or deceived if they are a victim of trafficking. Coercion and deception are completely irrelevant when the victim is a child so we’re pleased to see this is no longer a requirement for prosecution.
“Once these changes are introduced and the legal framework is robust, we will begin to be able to understand the prevalence of child trafficking and broader modern slavery offences in New Zealand.”
Armstrong hopes that the proposed changes to the Crimes Act are just the beginning of more comprehensive reform that includes the introduction of a Modern Slavery Act.
Modern slavery is an umbrella term that includes slavery, trafficking in persons, forced and exploitative labour, forced services including prostitution and marriage.
“Once the legal framework for prosecution is right in the Crimes Act, efforts must swiftly move to tackling prevention, victim protection and corporate accountability through modern slavery legislation.
She says World Vision is grateful that the protection framework for victim-survivors of trafficking, especially children, has been strengthened today and hopes that this is just the beginning of a better and fairer system to address modern slavery.