German NGO Network against Trafficking in Human Beings

The German NGO Network against Trafficking in Human Beings — known in German as the Bundesweiter Koordinierungskreis gegen Menschenhandel e. V. (KOK) — is a registered non-profit association that unites specialised counselling centres, women's shelters, migrant women's projects, lobbying organisations and welfare associations across Germany. It campaigns for the rights of victims of human trafficking and of migrant women affected by violence, and works on the interconnected themes of human trafficking, exploitation and violence in migration processes. Its office has been based in Berlin since 2006, and it currently brings together around 40 full members and three extraordinary members, including organisations from South Tyrol and Switzerland. The network traces its origins to the late 1980s, when a coordination office was created to improve networking among specialised organisations in response to the rise of sex tourism and marriage trafficking. In 1999 this networking body became a non-profit association under the name "Bundesweiter Koordinierungskreis gegen Frauenhandel und Gewalt an Frauen im Migrationsprozess e. V." The association's office first opened in Potsdam and moved to Berlin in 2006. In 2014, partly prompted by changes in mandates, members decided to rename the association; since then KOK has stood for "Bundesweiter Koordinierungskreis gegen Menschenhandel e. V." KOK is funded largely by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ), and also receives membership fees and donations and generates income through fees for training, lectures and articles. It has developed into a central interface between the practice of its member organisations and politics, channelling members' concerns, experience and demands into political processes through ad hoc statements, advocacy and public relations work. Its work is grounded in a rights-based understanding of the issue, with a focus on representing the interests of women*, especially migrant women*, while including all affected groups and forms of human trafficking. Its main areas of work are networking, lobbying and public relations, and education and knowledge transfer. It acts as an interface between member organisations' practice and politics and the public, bringing current developments and demands from practice to the federal political level and representing them in various bodies and working groups, both nationally and internationally. KOK publishes statements, press releases and publications tailored to current topics, and offers training.

The German NGO Network against Trafficking in Human Beings, known in German as the Bundesweiter Koordinierungskreis gegen Menschenhandel e. V. (KOK), began as a coordination office established in the late 1980s. It was created to improve networking among specialised organisations in response to the increased emergence of sex tourism and marriage trafficking. The coordination office was intended to promote networking among organisations — above all the specialised counselling centres — contribute to the implementation of political measures, and sensitise the public to these issues. In 1999, the networking office became a non-profit association named "Bundesweiter Koordinierungskreis gegen Frauenhandel und Gewalt an Frauen im Migrationsprozess e. V." The association's office initially opened in Potsdam and moved to Berlin in 2006, where it has been based since. KOK is funded for the most part by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). It also receives membership fees and donations and generates funds through fees for training, lectures and articles. In 2014, partly triggered by changes in mandates, KOK's members decided to change the association's name. Since then KOK has stood for "Bundesweiter Koordinierungskreis gegen Menschenhandel e. V." It now describes itself as "an association of organisations that work against all forms of human trafficking and exploitation as well as against violence in the migration process" and currently unites 41 member organisations from Germany as well as two members from South Tyrol and Switzerland. KOK has developed into a central interface between the practice of its member organisations and politics. The concerns, experiences and demands of members are brought into political processes by KOK through ad hoc statements, advocacy and public relations work. In this way KOK creates a transfer of knowledge between member organisations and politics, society and science. Its values and goals rest on a rights-based understanding of the issue. A human-rights-based approach should be the focus of all measures and strategies to combat human trafficking and exploitation. KOK's work focuses on representing the interests of women*, especially migrant women*. It includes all affected groups and forms of human trafficking in its work. Human trafficking is viewed in the context of migration processes triggered by global poverty, conflicts and political-economic processes. Those affected by human trafficking are supported in their self-determination and in the exercise of their rights. KOK works for the implementation of international law conventions and the application of human rights instruments, such as the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, which Germany has ratified. Beyond improving the living situation of those affected and enforcing their rights, supporting the specialised counselling centres is a central concern of KOK. It also aims to achieve compliance with national and international standards in dealing with those affected and to advance a women's and human rights perspective across society. KOK's members are specialised counselling centres for those affected by human trafficking and exploitation, autonomous migrant women's projects, counselling centres for prostitutes, women's shelters, lobbying organisations and welfare associations. The work of KOK is enriched by the expertise of the various members and is oriented to their needs and experiences. Within the members' assembly, which meets twice a year, current topics are discussed, exchange of experience between organisations is enabled, and political demands and KOK's work priorities are decided. KOK is a registered non-profit association consisting of the following bodies: the members' assembly, the board and the advisory council. The members' assembly is the decision-making body of KOK. The office was established by the members to carry out KOK's tasks. The board, consisting of at least three and at most five staff from KOK member organisations, is elected by the member organisations and works on an honorary basis for two years at a time. Its task is to represent KOK in and out of court and to work closely with the office. In line with KOK's objectives, its main areas of work are networking, lobbying and public relations, and education and knowledge transfer. KOK functions as an interface between the practice of member organisations and politics and the public. On behalf of its members it brings current developments and demands from practice to the federal political level and represents them in various bodies and working groups. Its committee and networking work takes place nationally and internationally. KOK publishes ad hoc statements, press releases and publications tailored to current topics. It also offers training.

• 2014

  Members decide to rename the association; since then KOK stands for "Bundesweiter Koordinierungskreis gegen Menschenhandel e. V."

• 2006

  The association's office moves from Potsdam to Berlin.

• 1999

  The networking office becomes a non-profit association named "Bundesweiter Koordinierungskreis gegen Frauenhandel und Gewalt an Frauen im Migrationsprozess e. V."

• 1989

  A coordination office is established in the late 1980s to improve networking among specialised organisations in response to sex tourism and marriage trafficking.

A rights-based umbrella network and central interface between frontline counselling practice and federal politics, focused on the rights of victims of human trafficking and migrant women affected by violence.

• Advocacy and lobbying

  Bringing members' concerns, experiences and demands into political processes through ad hoc statements, advocacy and public relations work.

• Networking

  Promoting networking among specialised counselling centres and other member organisations, nationally and internationally.

• Education and knowledge transfer

  Training, lectures and articles, and knowledge transfer between member organisations and politics, society and science.

• Publications

  Ad hoc statements, press releases and publications tailored to current topics.

1. 1German NGO Network against Trafficking in Human Beingswikidata.org
2. 2Bundesweiter Koordinierungskreis gegen Menschenhandelde.wikipedia.org