Trafficking victims are entitled to justice for the crimes and human rights violations committed against them. Access to remedies for trafficking victims is key not only to support victims’ recovery, but also to reaffirm their rights and prevent re-victimization. Remedies often provide financial means, which can help to support reintegration and reduce vulnerability to re-trafficking. Remedies can also contribute to victims’ emotional and psychological recovery and provide a sense of justice and closure. Remedies – restitution and compensation – should be adequate and appropriate, proportional to the gravity of the violation, and adapted to the circumstances of the case. This practitioner guide distills existing research on the right to an effective remedy, including both a trafficking victim’s substantive right to that remedy and the procedural rights necessary to secure it.
