The city gears up for the Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking which will take place from February 13-15

Through her work with victims of human trafficking, Emma Thompson felt inspired to take action. She said that Elena's story, 'somehow contained the seeds of a rebirth and also of a creative act that could be taken'. So, she joined forces with fellow artists to create "Journey".

Duration: 3:40

8 February 2008 - Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson is joining forces with UNODC to raise awareness about human trafficking. The British actress will be participating in the Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking that will take place from 13-15 February.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released a new series of anti-human trafficking radio spots, featuring the voice of British actress and UNODC Goodwill Ambassador Julia Ormond. Ms Ormond, whose film credits include Legends of the Fall with Brad Pitt and Sabrina with Harrison Ford, became UNODC Goodwill Ambassador on Human Trafficking last December. The public service announcements are part of UNODC's efforts to raise awareness of the crime of human trafficking, which - as shown in a new UNODC report - affects virtually every country in the world.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released a new series of anti-human trafficking radio spots, featuring the voice of British actress and UNODC Goodwill Ambassador Julia Ormond. Ms Ormond, whose film credits include Legends of the Fall with Brad Pitt and Sabrina with Harrison Ford, became UNODC Goodwill Ambassador on Human Trafficking last December. The public service announcements are part of UNODC's efforts to raise awareness of the crime of human trafficking, which - as shown in a new UNODC report - affects virtually every country in the world.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released a new series of anti-human trafficking radio spots, featuring the voice of British actress and UNODC Goodwill Ambassador Julia Ormond. Ms Ormond, whose film credits include Legends of the Fall with Brad Pitt and Sabrina with Harrison Ford, became UNODC Goodwill Ambassador on Human Trafficking last December. The public service announcements are part of UNODC's efforts to raise awareness of the crime of human trafficking, which - as shown in a new UNODC report - affects virtually every country in the world.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released a new series of anti-human trafficking radio spots, featuring the voice of British actress and UNODC Goodwill Ambassador Julia Ormond. Ms Ormond, whose film credits include Legends of the Fall with Brad Pitt and Sabrina with Harrison Ford, became UNODC Goodwill Ambassador on Human Trafficking last December. The public service announcements are part of UNODC's efforts to raise awareness of the crime of human trafficking, which - as shown in a new UNODC report - affects virtually every country in the world.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released a new series of anti-human trafficking radio spots, featuring the voice of British actress and UNODC Goodwill Ambassador Julia Ormond. Ms Ormond, whose film credits include Legends of the Fall with Brad Pitt and Sabrina with Harrison Ford, became UNODC Goodwill Ambassador on Human Trafficking last December. The public service announcements are part of UNODC's efforts to raise awareness of the crime of human trafficking, which - as shown in a new UNODC report - affects virtually every country in the world.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released a new series of anti-human trafficking radio spots, featuring the voice of British actress and UNODC Goodwill Ambassador Julia Ormond. Ms Ormond, whose film credits include Legends of the Fall with Brad Pitt and Sabrina with Harrison Ford, became UNODC Goodwill Ambassador on Human Trafficking last December. The public service announcements are part of UNODC's efforts to raise awareness of the crime of human trafficking, which - as shown in a new UNODC report - affects virtually every country in the world.

As I am sure you are aware the Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking is now only weeks away.

I recently met with Ruslana Lyzhychko, the Ukrainian pop singer, dancer, producer, composer, social activist and former parliamentarian. Ruslana's active involvement in the anti-human trafficking cause led her to contact my office and generously offer her help.

Lake Volta, Ghana: children represent cheap labour

The United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) aims to mobilize state and non-state players to eradicate human trafficking by reducing both the vulnerability of potential victims and the demand for exploitation in all its forms; ensuring adequate protection and support to those who do fall victim, as well as efficient prosecution of the criminals involved. "The Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking" will be held under the framework of UN.GIFT. For more information, please visit www.ungift.org.

9 January - UNODC Regional Office for Brazil and South Cone has just launched a new public service announcement (PSA) on human trafficking to raise awareness about a problem that many people find is not part of their daily reality. Trafficking in persons has many facets other than the most notorious one in the country: international trafficking of women.

7 January - Some of Bollywood's biggest stars have joined UNODC's efforts to curb human trafficking in India. Millions of moviegoers in India and world-wide have seen a two-minute video called One Life, No Price - aiming to sensitize viewers to this crime - which preceded the premiere of the new film, Welcome.

The spot calls on the general public to take action against human trafficking by showing a woman helping a victim escape her forced labour situation.  UNODC worked closely with local partners in the distribution of the spot to add a telephone hotline number at the end for help or more information.

Duration: 0:45

The spot seeks to empower victims of human trafficking by showing that it may be possible to escape forced labour situations. UNODC worked closely with local partners in the distribution of the spot to add a telephone number where victims are able to receive assistance and support.

Duration: 0:45

The focus of this award-winning spot is the trafficking in men, women and children for forced labour, such as in factories, fields or as domestic servants. The spot aims to warn potential victims about the dangers of trafficking, and to raise awareness among the general public of this growing problem.

Duration: 0:30 and 0:60

Young women who are at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking networks are the focus of this Public Service Announcement. The spot uses powerful images to reveal the harsh realities behind attractive job offers abroad, and seeks to educate potential victims of the dangers involved in human trafficking.

Duration: 0:30 and 0:60

26 November - Across the world, many different actors are involved at the grass-root level in fighting child trafficking and the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict. Teamwork is vital for making this struggle more effective. UN.GIFT's regional event in Côte d'Ivoire at the end of November aims to combine these forces for more coherent and decisive action.

Afghanistan is a place of origin, transit and destination for victims of human trafficking.  The country currently has no specific law to deal with this crime, but legal drafters are working on Afghanistan's first Anti-Trafficking Law. Riikka Puttonen, a legal expert with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, discusses the trafficking situation in Afghanistan with Louise Potterton.

Duration: 8:35

UNODC will train 120 officials involved in the fight against human trafficking to improve the prosecution of this crime in Colombia between 19 November - 7 December.

For more information, please visit http://www.unodc.org/colombia/es/trata.html.

Lake Volta, Ghana: children represent cheap labour

22 November - The United Nations headquarters in Vienna received Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden during their State visit to Austria yesterday. Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of UNODC, welcomed the royal couple and explained the scope of the Office's work ranging from combating illicit drugs and drug addiction to tackling the sinister "problems without borders" - migrant smuggling, corruption, illicit firearms, terrorism, human trafficking and cybercrime.

Clandestine migration, Mauritania

The High-Level Expert Meeting on Trafficking in Children and Armed Conflict: Preventing and Combating the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers will take place in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, from 26 - 28 November. The objective of the meeting is to develop of a shared understanding of the issue of trafficking in persons in conflict and post conflict contexts.

The event takes place within the framework of UN.GIFT - an initiative designed to have a long-term impact and to create a turning point in the global fight against human trafficking. Throughout 2007 and 2008, events will take place across the world globe to raise awareness, reduce the vulnerability of potential victims, and examine the human impact of this crime with a view to spurring action to eliminate it.

For more information, please visit www.ungift.org.

Focusing on the criminal justice element of human trafficking and migrant smuggling, the work that UNODC does to combat these crimes is underpinned by the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and its protocols on trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling.

29 October 2007 - The photography exhibition "Human Trafficking: Images of Vulnerability"was opened by the UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa and Mrs. Ban Soon-taek, wife of the Secretary-General of the United Nations today.

Children from Vietnam are being trafficked to the UK, where they're forced to work in cannabis factories. UNODC is working on projects in Vietnam to prevent human trafficking and is assisting the UK and Vietnamese police authorities in tackling this crime. Troels Vester, Crime Prevention Expert, discusses the issue with Louise Potterton.

Duration: 8:35