Publications

Human Rights and Trafficking at the Southern Border of Andalusia: An Integrated Analysis of Vulnerability, Policy, and Social Work Practices

This report examines the human rights situation of migrants at the southern border of Andalusia, with a specific focus on the Humanitarian Attention Programme (HAP) and the phenomenon of trafficking in women within the same region. Drawing upon legal frameworks, case studies, and fieldwork conducted with migrants, professionals, and survivors, the study highlights how vulnerability—far from being an inherent personal condition—is shaped by structural inequalities, restrictive migration policies, and deficiencies in protection systems. The report identifies critical shortcomings, including violations of rights at entry points, limited access to legal procedures, and insufficient protection against trafficking. By adopting a human rights-based approach, the analysis contrasts the gaps between humanitarian policy design and lived experiences of migrants, underscoring the urgent need to move from a welfare perspective to one of structural change. Recommendations include strengthening legal and policy frameworks, ensuring equitable access to services, institutionalising exit and bridging programmes, improving coordination between actors, and embedding monitoring mechanisms to guarantee accountability. The findings demonstrate that migration governance and anti-trafficking interventions must be integrated into a rights-centred approach, positioning migrants not merely as recipients of aid but as rights-bearing individuals. This integrated perspective contributes to both academic debate and policy advocacy, offering evidence-based pathways to align migration and social work practices with international human rights standards

How to Access the Full Report
The full document Report on Human Rights and Trafficking (2025) is available for free educational and research purposes. It can be downloaded here

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Derechos Humanos y Trata en la Frontera Sur de Andalucía: Un Análisis Integrado de la Vulnerabilidad, las Políticas y las Prácticas del Trabajo Social

Este informe examina la situación de los derechos humanos de las personas migrantes en la frontera sur de Andalucía, con especial atención al Programa de Atención Humanitaria (PAH) y al fenómeno de la trata de mujeres en la misma región. A partir de marcos legales, estudios de caso y trabajo de campo con migrantes, profesionales y supervivientes, el estudio muestra cómo la vulnerabilidad —lejos de ser una condición inherente de la persona— se produce por desigualdades estructurales, políticas migratorias restrictivas y carencias en los sistemas de protección. El informe identifica deficiencias críticas, como violaciones de derechos en los puntos de entrada, un acceso limitado a los procedimientos legales y una protección insuficiente frente a la trata. Desde un enfoque basado en derechos humanos, el análisis pone de relieve la brecha entre el diseño de las políticas humanitarias y las experiencias vividas por los migrantes, subrayando la urgencia de pasar de una perspectiva asistencial a una de cambio estructural. Entre las recomendaciones se encuentran el fortalecimiento de los marcos jurídicos y políticos, la garantía de un acceso equitativo a los servicios, la institucionalización de programas de transición y salida, la mejora de la coordinación entre actores y la incorporación de mecanismos de seguimiento y rendición de cuentas. Los hallazgos demuestran que la gobernanza migratoria y las intervenciones contra la trata deben integrarse en un enfoque centrado en los derechos, situando a las personas migrantes no como meros receptores de ayuda, sino como sujetos plenos de derechos. Esta perspectiva integrada contribuye tanto al debate académico como a la incidencia política, ofreciendo vías basadas en la evidencia para alinear las prácticas migratorias y de trabajo social con los estándares internacionales de derechos humanos.
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Diritti Umani e Tratta alla Frontiera Meridionale dell’Andalusia: Un’Analisi Integrata della Vulnerabilità, delle Politiche e delle Pratiche del Servizio Sociale

Il presente rapporto analizza la situazione dei diritti umani delle persone migranti alla frontiera meridionale dell’Andalusia, con particolare attenzione al Programma di Assistenza Umanitaria (PAH) e al fenomeno della tratta di donne nella stessa regione. Basandosi su quadri giuridici, studi di caso e ricerche sul campo con migranti, professionisti e sopravvissute, lo studio evidenzia come la vulnerabilità — lungi dall’essere una condizione intrinseca della persona — derivi da disuguaglianze strutturali, politiche migratorie restrittive e carenze nei sistemi di protezione. Il rapporto individua gravi lacune, tra cui violazioni dei diritti nei punti di ingresso, accesso limitato alle procedure legali e protezione insufficiente contro la tratta. Adottando un approccio basato sui diritti umani, l’analisi mette in luce il divario tra la progettazione delle politiche umanitarie e le esperienze vissute dai migranti, sottolineando l’urgenza di passare da una prospettiva assistenziale a un cambiamento strutturale. Le raccomandazioni comprendono il rafforzamento dei quadri giuridici e politici, la garanzia di un accesso equo ai servizi, l’istituzionalizzazione di programmi di transizione e reinserimento, il miglioramento del coordinamento tra gli attori e l’implementazione di meccanismi di monitoraggio e responsabilità. I risultati dimostrano che la governance migratoria e gli interventi contro la tratta devono essere integrati in un approccio centrato sui diritti, che consideri le persone migranti non come meri destinatari di aiuti, bensì come titolari di diritti inalienabili. Questa prospettiva integrata contribuisce sia al dibattito accademico sia all’advocacy politica, offrendo percorsi basati su evidenze per allineare le pratiche migratorie e del servizio sociale agli standard internazionali sui diritti umani.

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Policy Briefs on Local Governance of Human Mobility: Comparative Insights from Granada and Palermo

This report presents a collection of policy briefs developed within the framework of the Global-ANSWER project, focusing on the local governance of human mobility in the municipalities of Granada (Spain) and Palermo (Italy). Drawing on case studies, participatory methodologies, and the contributions of academics, social workers, migrant associations, and public authorities, the report highlights the complexity of social inclusion as a non-linear and context-dependent process. Key findings underscore the central role of municipalities in managing migration, the importance of recognising migrants as rights holders and active contributors, and the necessity of integrating intersectional perspectives into policy design. The policy briefs examine recurrent challenges—including systemic invisibility, fragmented governance, limited resources, and barriers to communication—while proposing strategies such as the institutionalisation of migrant participation, intercultural mediation, evidence-based service design, and investment in housing, health, and mental well-being. By situating inclusion within a human rights and social justice framework, the report advances recommendations for moving beyond welfare approaches towards participatory, rights-based models of governance. It contributes both to academic debate and to policy innovation, offering practical tools and strategic guidance for strengthening local responses to migration across Europe.

• Global-ANSWER Policy Briefs (download the full document)

Access each chapter of the policy brief individually:

• Global-ANSWER Methodological Guide

• Global-ANSWER Glossary of Terms

• ‘White Paper’ of the Tuscany Region