The Protocol addresses illegal migration that occurs through transit by sea, land, or air. The basic aim of the Protocol is to prevent illegal migration and to punish the procurers, without restricting the free movement and legal entry of people into nations. Neither does the Protocol criminalize the illegal migrants for being participants in smuggling. Following the preamble, the Protocol is divided into three main parts. Part I, General Provisions, contains sections that focus on the Protocol's relationship with the Convention on Organized Crime, the purpose of the Protocol, terminology and definition, the scope of the Protocol's application, the criminal liability of migrants, and criminalization. Part II, Smuggling of Migrants by sea, contains provisions on international cooperation, measures against the smuggling of migrants by sea, and safeguard clauses. Part III deals with prevention, cooperation, and other measures. Provisions address border measures, the security and control of documents, training and technical cooperation, other prevention measures, protection and assistance measures, agreements and arrangements, and the return of smuggled migrants. The four main requirements for the nations that ratify the Protocol are to criminalize the smuggling of migrants and other acts specified in the Protocol; to enact legislation and undertake other measures to prevent the misuse of commercial carriers for the smuggling of migrants; to require commercial carriers to check passenger travel documents; and to prepare travel documents that are difficult to misuse, falsify, alter, or replicate. In implementing the Protocol, it is crucial to focus on both the organizations that procure and smuggle migrants and the people being smuggled. 8 references