The United Nations(UN)’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is annually observed across the globe on 30th July to create awareness about the state of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.
The theme of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2022 is “Use and abuse of technology”.
- The 2022 theme focuses on the role of technology in enabling and impeding human trafficking.
Background:
i.On 18th December 2013, The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/68/192 and proclaimed the 30th July of every year as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
ii.The first-ever World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was observed on 30th July 2014.
Blue Heart Campaign:
The Blue Heart Campaign supports the victims of Human Trafficking through the UN Voluntary Trust Fund (UNVTF).
This initiative aims to create global awareness to combat human trafficking and its impact on society.
- The Blue Heart represent the sorrow of people who are trafficked and act as a reminder for the people about the cold-heartedness of those who buy and sell fellow human beings.
Human Trafficking:
Human trafficking is a crime that exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes including forced labour and sex.
- In 2018 around 50000 human trafficking victims were detected and reported by 148 countries. Of these, around 50% were trafficked for sexual exploitation and 38% were exploited for forced labour.
- Around 46% of the victims of trafficking were women and around 19% were girls.
Efforts of UN:
i.Within the UN Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, the United Nations established the UNVTF in 2010 for the victims of trafficking in Persons, especially for Women and Children.
ii.UNVTF was established in line with the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime(UNTOC).
iii.UNVTF for victims of Human Trafficking is managed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
About United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):
Executive Director– Ghada Fathi Waly
Headquarters– Vienna, Austria
Established in 1997
