While the Palermo Protocol does not include articles relating to
enforcement, Article 32 of the Convention contains mechanisms for
implementation and enforcement by establishing a Conference of the
Parties to the Convention. '26The Conference was to be held no less than
one year following the Protocol's entry into force, and was designed for the
parties to aree upon mechanisms for achieving the objectives of the
Convention. Since the Palermo Protocol is lacking in any enforcement
mechanism, the tangential benefits from the enforcement mechanism set
out in the Convention are worth discussing because it addresses shared
objectives between the Convention and the Protocol in the battle against
human trafficking. These objectives include the facilitation of "training
and technical assistance," the "implementation of the Convention through
economic development," and prevention initiatives, including
"encouraging the mobilization of voluntary contributions."' Other objectives include "facilitating the exchange of information among State
Parties on patterns and trends in transnational organized crime and on
successful practices for combating it," cooperating with relevant
organizations, periodically reviewing the Convention's implementation,
and making recommendations to improve the Convention and its
implementation.12 This specifically requires State Parties to provide the
Conference with information on their programs, plans and practices, and
legislative and administrative measures to implement the Convention.' 0
The 2010 Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons
discusses various initiatives designed to effectuate prevention of trafficking,
protection of victims, and prosecution of traffickers, but does not explicitly
discuss enforcement measures for nations that do not comply with the
Protocol. The preamble of the Global Plan recognized the need to
"[h]elp Member States to reinforce their political commitments and legal
obligations to prevent and combat trafficking in persons[,]" but did not
later extrapolate on how this "help" would take shape. 32 The Global Plan
stated that nation states should " [i]mplement all relevant legal instruments
that criminalize trafficking in persons" and discussed enforcement
measures against traffickers including the "more systematic use of freezing
assets for the purpose of eventual confiscation," but did not address
enforcing nation states' legal obligations and the consequences that would
arise when these were not met. 3' Rather than discuss enforcement measures, the Global Plan stressed the "importance of strengthening
collective action by Member States and other stakeholders, including
regional and international organizations, non-governmental organizations,
the private sector and the media."'