For information only - not an official document
UNIS/CP/892
2 December 2015
VIENNA 2 December (UN Information Service) - Today is the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, an important day to reflect on the suffering of human trafficking victims who may be enslaved by this pitiless crime.
Human trafficking directly effects fragile societies and communities and has the reach to undermine attempts at promoting sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the UN General Assembly this year, specifically recognises the challenge of human trafficking.
Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals on gender equality seeks the elimination of trafficking and sexual and other forms of exploitation, while Goal 8 stresses the need to take measures to eradicate human trafficking.
Our efforts must protect vulnerable young people, especially women and girls, from human trafficking and assist the victims, so they can become survivors.
The platform for our resistance is the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocol on human trafficking, as well as the UN Convention against Corruption.
Using the convention and the protocol, information can be shared, joint operations undertaken, and victims protected and supported.
Sufficient funding is a priority particularly through the UN Trust Fund for trafficking victims. Data is essential for action and we must chase down criminals' profits wherever they flow.
Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals underscores the importance of ending trafficking and all forms of violence and torture of children.
We must work collectively to ensure this outcome. Otherwise, we risk a lost generation of girls and boys whose lives have been utterly destroyed by human trafficking.
A generation separated from their loved ones and cruelly exploited by criminals. Children traumatised and living without education, without healthcare and often without hope.
On this day, I call on every country and person to do their utmost to rid the world of human trafficking.
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For further information please contact:
David
Dadge
Spokesperson, UNODC
Phone: (+43 1) 26060-5629
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-5629
Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org
