United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Press/Media

13/05/2013 - General Assembly reviews efforts to combat human trafficking: Policy-makers put human trafficking on center stage today at a High Level Meeting of the General Assembly chaired by the President of the GA Vuk Jeremić and in the presence of the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The event was attended by 85 states, UNODC Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Mira Sorvino, as well as representatives from civil society. [Read more]

08/02/2013 - Actress Mira Sorvino extends her role as UNODC Goodwill Ambassador: Academy Award-winning actress Mira Sorvino visited the Vienna International Centre and agreed to continue in her role as the UNODC Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Human Trafficking. Ms. Sorvino, who has played a very active role in promoting the plight of human trafficking victims since her initial appointment in February 2009, also met with UNODC staff to discuss the latest trends and issues surrounding this multi-billion dollar crime. [Read more]

12/12/2012 - Increase in global child trafficking gives cause for concern, says new UNODC report: The 2012 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons released by UNODC has revealed that 27 per cent of all victims of human trafficking officially detected globally between 2007 and 2010 are children, up 7 per cent from the period 2003 to 2006. [Read more]

06/12/2012 - Lao PDR "extremely vulnerable" to trafficking by transnational organized crime groups, says UNODC Executive Director: Lao PDR's position at the hub of the Greater Mekong Subregion and its shared borders with Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam make it "extremely vulnerable" to the trafficking of people, illicit drugs and commodities by transnational organized crime groups, warned Yury Fedotov, UNODC Executive Director. He said this was true despite the country's economic reforms, impressive economic growth rates and its efforts to combat corruption. [Read more]

20/11/2012 - The Trust Fund for the Victims of Human Trafficking appeals for support, on Universal Children's Day: On United Nations Universal Children's Day the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for the Victims of Human Trafficking issued the following statement: "The date, 20th November marks the day on which both the Declaration on the Rights of the Child (1959), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) were adopted by the General Assembly. In observance of the 23rd anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child of the United Nations, the trustees of the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking, in particular women and children, would like to call for a targeted and immediate response to the plight of millions of children around the world who are still denied their fundamental rights and are prevented from the enjoyment of a happy childhood. [Read more]

17/10/2012 - Human trafficking under spotlight at Conference of Parties meeting: Traffickers in human beings make an estimated $32 billion annually in an illicit market that affects millions of victims worldwide every year. On the margins of the sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, intergovernmental agencies, NGOs and government representatives discussed progress made and shared best practices and challenges in fighting one of the world's most shameful crimes and one that robs people of their dignity and basic rights. [Read more]

10/10/2012 - Nigeria launches anti-human trafficking campaign, as two Goodwill Ambassadors are named: The Government of Nigeria, jointly with UNODC and the European Union, has launched a nationwide three-year anti-human trafficking campaign. Entitled "I am Priceless", the campaign is aimed at raising awareness about the reality, dangers and possible impact of irregular migration, as a consequence of either being smuggled or being a victim of trafficking in persons. UNODC also appointed two Nigerian celebrities, Joke Silva and Jude Abaga, as Goodwill Ambassadors to spearhead activities connected to the campaign, particularly among the young and vulnerable. [Read more]

28/09/2012 - Trade of Innocents: Film captures reality of child trafficking for sexual exploitation: UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov attended a preview screening of Trade of Innocents, a film that exposes the grim reality of children trafficked for sexual exploitation. The UNODC chief participated at the event in New York with Mira Sorvino, UNODC Goodwill Ambassador against human trafficking, who has a starring role in the film. [Read more]

27/09/2012 - On World Tourism Day, UNODC chief calls for more efforts to tackle trafficking for sexual exploitation: On the occasion of World Tourism Day, marked today, UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov highlighted the important role that the tourism industry can play in combating human trafficking for sexual and other exploitation. [Read more]

04/07/2012 - Cambodia : UN Trust Fund helps NGO to reintegrate children trafficked for exploitation: he thriving cross-border trade in Poipet, a Cambodian town on the Cambodia - Thailand border, attracts many migrant families from other parts of Cambodia. However, the lack of actual job opportunities has led to high unemployment rates and widespread poverty, with most residents earning one dollar a day or less. [Read more]

11/06/2012 - Albania: Fifteen-year-old girl gets her life back after being trafficked: Ana, a teenage girl from Albania, was only 2 years old when her parents divorced. Ana was sent to live with her father's new family, but when conditions at home became too harsh for her, she decided to run away. Barely into her teens, alone and without any money, the young girl met two boys who promised to help her find a job as a "hostess" in Kosovo. Their only condition was that she had to do everything they told her, no questions asked. [Read more]

05/06/2012 - Moldova: UN Trust Fund supports provision of legal assistance to victims of human trafficking: When Dana read an advert from a travel agency inviting women from the Republic of Moldova to spend a summer in Italy working as waitresses in a nightclub, she did not think twice about seizing the opportunity. The 19-year-old had long dreamed of going to Italy; now she could do so - and even earn good money. Dana responded to the ad and soon after made the fateful journey from her country, nestled between Ukraine and Romania, west to Italy. Upon arrival, Dana found herself trapped in a nightmare. [Read more]

03/04/2012 - UN General Assembly President calls for redoubled efforts to end human trafficking: The President of the 66th United Nations General Assembly His Excellency Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser today called on Member States, civil society, the private sector and the media to step up efforts to bring an end to human trafficking, calling it "an appalling form of human rights abuse". [Read more]

01/03/2012 - Mexico Miss Universe 2010 lends support to Blue Heart Campaign against Human Trafficking: Ximena Navarrete, Miss Universe 2010 and native of the Mexican state of Jalisco, has declared her support for the UNODC Blue Heart Campaign against Human Trafficking. "Humans are not for sale, either in Jalisco or anywhere else in the world", said Navarrete on taking up her awareness-raising role, which is targeted at young people and families in her home state. [Read more]

18/01/2012 - UNODC and London-based watchmakers in timely partnership to help victims of human trafficking: Backes and Strauss, the London-based watchmakers, have decided to support UNODC in raising funds for victims of human trafficking by launching an exclusive line of "Victoria Blue Heart watches". The watches were launched yesterday at a special event at the Hotel des Bergues, Geneva. A portion of the proceeds from sales will go towards the Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking created in 2010 by the United Nations General Assembly. [Read more]

28/12/2012 - Blue for good: fashion with a conscience for victims of human trafficking: As part of its efforts to forge partnerships with the private sector, the UNODC Blue Heart Campaign against Human Trafficking has entered into a joint venture with luxury fashion label Beulah London, a socially conscious brand which, through the manufacture of its fashion items, works with women who have escaped the sex trade in India. [Read more]

20/12/2011 - Lebanon joins the Blue Heart Campaign against Human Trafficking: High-level representatives of the Government of Lebanon led government officials, local non-governmental organizations, media and UNODC staff in the official launch of the Blue Heart Campaign in Beirut last weekend. [Read more]

18/10/2011 - United Nations anti-trafficking fund delivers help to victims: The United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking, managed by UNODC, has announced the release of its first tranche of funding for frontline organizations working with survivors of human trafficking. Some $300,000 will be disbursed under the 2011 Small Grants Facility to organizations around the world working at the forefront of services provided to trafficking victims. [Read more]

30/03/2011 - Hollywood actress joins UNODC for briefing on human trafficking in East Asia: UNODC Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Human Trafficking and actress, Mira Sorvino, took time away from filming "Trade of Innocents", a movie about young girls trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation, to learn more about human trafficking in East Asia. Ms. Sorvino visited UNODC Regional Centre in Bangkok and the Child Protection Development Centre in Pattaya. [Read More]

03/02/2011 - UN Trafficking Fund announces new grant opportunities for NGOs as donations near US$ 1 million: The first steps toward the establishment of a UN-led 'Small Grants Facility' for victims of human trafficking were taken today in a move aimed at strengthening on-the-ground assistance to survivors of this brutal crime. A public call will be made over the coming months through the UNODC website. The provision of these financial grants is an integral component of the UN Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking which was established by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in late-2010. [Read More]

11/12/2010 - Business leaders, civil society and Hollywood join with UN to protect victims of human trafficking: Human trafficking is a US$ 32 billion a year global enterprise; a shameful and immoral operation providing modern-day slave traders with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of commodities to be re-sold over and over. Around 2.4 million people are presently enslaved in forced labour across the world and human trafficking has become one of today's top crimes and a major social concern of the 21 ^st century. [Read More]

18/11/2010 - UNODC Head highlights increasing progress and support for UN Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking: Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), today said that international support for the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking, Especially Women and Children was steadily growing two weeks after it was launched in New York. [Read More]

04/11/2010 - Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher join UN Secretary General in launch of UN Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking: In a bid to help the victims of human trafficking, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today launched the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons with Hollywood stars and humanitarian activists Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. Joining them were Joseph Deiss, President of the General Assembly, Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), former trafficking victims, and New York Times journalist-author and Pulitzer Prize-winner Nicholas Kristof. [Read More]

Media Advisory - Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher to kick off 4 November launch of UN Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will formally launch the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children. The Fund is one of the most important elements of the new United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons adopted by the UN General Assembly on 30 July 2010. [Read More]