World Day against Trafficking in Persons
The World Day against Trafficking in Persons observed on 30 July, was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution A/RES/68/192. Trafficking in persons is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. Every year, thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers, in their own countries and abroad. Almost every country in the world is affected by trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims. UNODC, as guardian of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Protocols thereto, assists States in their efforts to implement the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons.
United Nations Secretary-General's message for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2020, July 30.
This year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons honours the first responders helping to end the crime of human trafficking: law enforcement officers, social workers, healthcare professionals, NGO staff and many others working around the world to protect the vulnerable.
Like the frontline heroes saving lives and sustaining our societies in the COVID-19 pandemic, these providers are keeping vital services going throughout the crisis -- identifying victims, ensuring their access to justice, health, social assistance and protection, and preventing further abuse and exploitation.
I thank these first responders and urge all governments and societies to join their cause, including through the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated many global inequalities, created new obstacles on the path to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and left millions of people at greater risk of being trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labour, forced marriage and other crimes.
Women and girls already account for more than 70 per cent of detected human trafficking victims, and today are among the hardest hit by the pandemic. With previous downturns showing that women face a harder time getting paid jobs back in the aftermath of crisis, vigilance is especially important at this time.
If the world is to put human dignity and human rights at the centre of the COVID-19 response and recovery, we need to do more to protect trafficking victims and prevent vulnerable people from being exploited by criminals. On this World Day against Trafficking in Persons, let us pledge to work for inclusive societies and economies that leave no one behind.
António Guterres; UNSG.
Statement by Ghada Waly; UNODC Executive Director on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2020; July 30.
Every day, in every country in the world, human traffickers exploit people for profit. The poor and the vulnerable are most at risk. Over 70 per cent of detected trafficking victims are women and girls, while nearly one third are children.
COVID-19 has amplified trafficking dangers. Loss of jobs, growing poverty, school closures and a rise in online interactions are increasing vulnerabilities and opening up opportunities for organized crime groups.
The crisis has overwhelmed social and public services, impacted the work of law enforcement and criminal justice systems, and made it harder for victims to seek help.
And yet in these difficult times, we see the best of humanity: frontline heroes, men and women risking their lives and going above and beyond to provide essential support for human trafficking victims.
The theme of this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons focuses on the first responders- the social workers, labour inspectors, law enforcement officers and prosecutors, health workers and NGO staff who identify victims, help them on their path to justice and with rebuilding their lives.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime supports the first responders’ mission by channelling funding to help victims; providing protective equipment to anti-trafficking units and shelters; and assisting Member States to mitigate the pandemic’s impact on anti-trafficking responses.
UNODC also manages the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, which supports NGOs to provide direct assistance to 3,500 victims a year in more than 40 countries.
I invite governments and the private sector to donate to the Trust Fund, and I call on all people to show their support by joining UNODC’s Blue Heart campaign against human trafficking.
On the 2020 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, and in the COVID response and recovery, I salute and support the first responders who provide a lifeline to trafficking victims. By reaffirming the rights and dignity of all people, we can recover better, more inclusively and more sustainably.
Ghada Waly; Executive-Secretary UNODC.
On the occasion of World Day against Trafficking in Persons, ICAT collectively pays tribute to front-line professionals who deliver life-saving assistance to victims of trafficking. Service providers, law enforcement officers, social workers, labour inspectors, healthcare professionals, NGOs and survivor activists, even in the depths of the pandemic, help victims of this crime on their path to rehabilitation. During the COVID-19 crisis, the essential role of first responders has become even more important. Particularly as the restrictions imposed by the pandemic have made their work even more difficult. Still, their contribution is often overlooked and unrecognized. In honouring the resilience of their work, ICAT calls on governments and all relevant stakeholders to ensure adequate resources and support to front-line professionals providing much needed assistance and other essential services to victims of human trafficking, and to include civil survivor-led organizations in the design and implementation of anti-trafficking policies and programmes. As this year also marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Protocol against Trafficking in Persons, we cannot neglect the importance of front-line professionals in tackling human trafficking and in helping victims restore their rights.
FORUM: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2020. " End Trafficking in Persons!"
This virtual high-level event highlighted the crucial roles of a range of groups of people engaged in responding to trafficking in persons, particularly in the context of the global response to COVID-19.
High-level Panel Discussion
H.E. Mr Valentin Rybakov, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Belarus (moderator)
Ms. Ghada Waly, UNODC Executive Director (opening remarks)
H.E. Mr. John Cotton Richmond, Ambassador-At-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, United States
H.E. Mr. Rubén Darío Cuéllar Suárez, Permanent Representative of Bolivia
H.E. Mr. Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, Permanent Representative of Belgium
H.E. Mr. Mohamed Fathi Ahmed Edrees, Permanent Representative of Egypt
Ms. Sarah Lou Ysmael Arriola, Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines
Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive Director
Ms. Mira Sorvino, UNODC Goodwill Ambassador for the Global Fight against Human Trafficking
Ms. Marcela Loaiza, Trafficking Survivor, Author and Activist
Mr. Michael Brosowski, Founder and Co-CEO, Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, Vietnam
Musical / dance interlude “I Am Lost” created by Arts for Justice Collective and Oaks Christian School
Virtual high-level event that highlighted the crucial roles of a range of groups of people engaged in responding to trafficking in persons, particularly in the context of the global response to COVID-19. The participating organizations (ILO, IOM, UNICEF, UN Women, UNHCR and UNODC) decided to continue the effort initiated and proposed the creation of a coordination group. The Inter-Agency Coordination Group Against Human Trafficking (ICAT) was formally established in March 2007.
Resouces:
Inter-Agency Coordination Group Against Human Trafficking (ICAT).
Coordinated action to address trafficking in persons for forced labour.
The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the precarious conditions of trafficked victims and allowing for the creation of new avenues for traffickers to recruit and exploit vulnerable people. In response, the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT), has released a new Issue Brief, seeking to increase awareness and provide a series of recommendations for policy action, identification and protection of victims, and accountability for perpetrators.
Cabin crew to prevent human trafficking.
United Nations efforts to prevent trafficking in persons take an important step forward with the launch of the online training on the ICAO-OHCHR Guidelines for Training Cabin Crew on Identifying and Responding to Trafficking in Persons. Developed by ICAO and the UN human rights office, the free e-learning course explores the unique opportunities cabin crew have to observe passengers over the duration of their flights and potentially identify and assist human trafficking victims.
Secondary Education: Smuggling of Migrants.