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CERC Annual International Conference 2006

Sex ‘n’ Drugs ‘n’ Shifty Roles: European and International Perspectives on Trafficking and Illegal Migration
4 – 5 December 2006

CONTEMPORARY EUROPE RESEARCH CENTRE
Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence
The University of Melbourne
Level 2, 234 Queensberry St, Carlton

Conference Concerns

The issues of human smuggling, people trafficking and drug trafficking are becoming more salient in Europe, Australia, and many other parts of the world. Some analysts argue that these crimes represent major security threats. Others see mass migration as a way of addressing the problem of greying populations in the developed world, at the same time as they can help to reduce pressure in developing and transition states, which has the potential to reduce security threats to the West. Much of the smuggling and trafficking involves corrupt officials of the State; analyses that are focused only on organised crime create a distorted image of the total picture.

This conference will analyse the scale and nature of the various forms of smuggling and trafficking; the role of corruption in this; and the potential of a number of different approaches to reduce the scale and effects of the various forms of crime. Although the principal focus will be on Europe, the inclusion of papers on Australia and the United States will provide valuable comparative perspectives, and permit an evaluation of the extent to which we can learn vicariously from each other.

Conference Convenor: Prof Leslie Holmes, Deputy Director CERC

Audio available from this conference

Jean Monnet Lecture - Prof. Zbigniew Lasocik (University of Warsaw): 'Human Trafficking: Social and Legal Aspects for the European Union and its Member States'

AUDIO of this lecture (mp3 15 MB)

The 2006 CERC Annual Goethe Institut Lecture - Dr. Rebecca Pates (University of Leipzig): "'Sadly, we have no trafficking victims here." German Officials' Discourses on Migrants and Sex Work.'

AUDIO of this lecture (mp3 15.6 MB)