The United Nations (UN) World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is annually observed across the globe on July 30 to raise awareness about the situation of human trafficking victims and to promote and protect their rights.
- 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and it is crucial to address the shortcomings and accelerate action to #EndHumanTrafficking.
2024 Theme:
i.The 2024 theme of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is ‘Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking’.
ii.The theme focus on the vulnerability of children and taking action to put an end to child trafficking.
Background:
i.On December 2013, The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/68/192 and proclaimed 30th of July every year as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
ii.The first-ever World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was observed on July 30, 2014.
Human Trafficking:
i.Human Trafficking is a recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit.
ii.The traffickers use violence, fraudulent employment agencies, and fake promises of education and job opportunities to trick, coerce and deceive their victims.
- Men, women and children of all ages and backgrounds can become victims of this crime, which occurs in every part of the world.
Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (GLOTIP):
i.According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (GLOTIP), children are twice as likely to face violence during trafficking than adults.
ii.Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean face a disproportionate burden, with children accounting for 60% of detected trafficking victims.
- Children are subjected to various forms of trafficking which includes exploitation in forced labour, criminality or begging, trafficked for illegal adoption, recruitment into armed forces, and online and sexual abuse and exploitation.
Blue Heart Campaign:
i.It aims to fight against human trafficking and support the victims particularly women and children.
ii.This initiative is led by the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons (UNVTF), which is a part of UNODC and the fund is managed by the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
iii.The Blue Heart symbol represents solidarity with the victims and the cold-heartedness of those who buy and sell their fellow human beings.
Other Initiatives:
i.In 2022, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNODC established the Trafficking in Persons (TiP) working group under the UN Network on Migration (UNNM) in Iraq, to advocate for the rights of all victims of trafficking, ensuring their protection and adequate provision of services.
ii.In September 2023, The Netherlands, supported by European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL), coordinated a 3-day investigation targeting online criminal activities that enable human trafficking. This led to the identification of 11 suspected human traffickers and 45 potential victims.
ii.In 2023, Operation Synergia led by the The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), targeted human trafficking rings linked to cyber scam centres.
2024 Events:
i.The United Nations Network on Migration(UNNM) in Iraq calls for joint action to end human trafficking, especially for all child victims of trafficking, while keeping survivors’ needs at the forefront of our preventive and response programs.
ii.The Australian Government confirms its commitment to combat modern slavery and protect and assist victims, survivors, and those at risk. It also established Australia’sfirst federal Anti-Slavery Commissioner, who will work across government, industry and civil society to support victims and survivors, raise awareness.
About the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):
Executive Director (ED) – Ghada Fathi Waly
Headquarters – Vienna, Austria
Established –1997
