United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

News and Events

Subscribe to UNODC Human Trafficking (RSS Feed)

Subscribe to UNODC Migrant Smuggling (RSS Feed)

18 January 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.

16 January 2012

India: Psychosocial care for women in shelter homes - a dire need for trafficking survivors

To improve the quality of care provided to women in shelter homes, UNODC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), a renowned mental health institution in Bangalore, India had initiated a capacity building programme for caregivers in Government-run shelter homes for women.

28 December 2011

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.

21 December 2011

UNODC and IOM partner on an awareness seminar on consular services and human trafficking issues

UNODC and IOM emphasised the need for a multidimensional, coordinated approach on trafficking in persons including the prevention and victim support services as one of the most exigent issues in human trafficking, at a workshop that took place in Tirana, Albania during 14 to16 December 2011

20 December 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. Speaking at the launch, Mr. Masood Karimipour, Regional Representative of the UNODC Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, said: "We are very pleased to note that Lebanon is the first country in the region to join the Blue Heart campaign."

19 December 2011

New UNODC paper sheds light on smuggling of migrants by sea

As the world marked the International Migrants Day on 18 December, UNODC released an issue paper on smuggling of migrants by sea. The paper discusses the international legal framework on smuggling of migrants by sea; the current responses and challenges thereof; as well as recommendations to strengthen responses. While smuggling by sea accounts only for a small portion of overall migrant smuggling around the world, more deaths occur at sea than any other form of migrant smuggling.

02 December 2011

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

Resolution 317(IV) of 2 December 1949

The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December, marks the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others ( resolution 317(IV) of 2 December 1949).

17 November 2011

Voluntary reporting system on migrant smuggling in support of the Bali Process

An international database on migrant smuggling came closer to reality as law enforcement officials from Asia and the Pacific, Europe and North America met to review UNODC's work on setting up a voluntary migrant smuggling reporting system.

The system will allow source, transit and destination states to collect and share data and to then use it to develop effective and comprehensive evidence-based policies to address migrant smuggling, a low-risk, high-profit crime.

03 November 2011

In-Depth Training Manual on smuggling of migrants now available online

The UNODC In-depth training manual on investigating and prosecuting the smuggling of migrants is the product of criminal justice expertise gathered from around the world.
The diversity of those involved in the process of elaborating the Manual reflects its target audience of criminal justice practitioners including investigators, examining judges, investigating judges, prosecutors, magistrates, law enforcement officers, border agents and all other professionals who are involved in the criminal justice system.

01 November 2011

UNODC and UNHCR sign memorandum of understanding to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling

UNODC and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at furthering joint cooperation in combating human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants. The memorandum, which was signed by UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov and UNHCR High Commissioner António Guterres, is the first formal cooperation agreement between the two United Nations entities.

25 October 2011

Basic Training Manual to investigate and prosecute the smuggling of migrants adapted for Central American and Mexican law enforcement authorities

Prosecutors and police officials from the Central American states, Mexico and Spain attended a three day workshop with the aim of adapting the UNODC Basic Training Manual on Investigating and Prosecuting Migrant Smuggling to the region´s context.

10 October 2011

UNODC launches first global database of human trafficking cases

UNODC Case Law Database

Human trafficking is a truly global phenomenon and a crime which affects nearly every part of the world, whether as a source, transit or destination country. According to UNODC, victims from at least 127 countries have been detected and it is estimated that more than 2.4 million people are exploited by criminals at any given time. More than a decade after the adoption of the Trafficking in Persons Protocol, most countries have criminalized most forms of human trafficking in their legislation.

23 September 2011

Working Group on Trafficking in October 2011

The Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime held in October 2010 decided in its resolution 5/2 that the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons should continue to advise and assist it in the implementation of its mandate with regard to the Trafficking in Persons Protocol. The fourth session of the Trafficking Working Group will be held in Vienna, Austria from 10 to 12 October 2011.

23 September 2011

Integrated and sustained efforts are key in ending human trafficking

UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov with the First Lady of the Dominican Republic, H.E. Dr. Margarita Cedeño de Fernández / Photo:

Speaking at two separate yet related events this week on the issue of human trafficking, UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov reiterated the need for sustained efforts in fighting this crime at all levels: "It is only through working together from the community-level right through to the international arena that we can break this crime and put an end to human trafficking."

20 September 2011

Expert Group Meeting on Migrant Smuggling by Sea

UNODC hosted an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on Smuggling of Migrants by Sea to discuss challenges in preventing and combating the phenomenon of migrant smuggling by sea, and develop practical recommendations to support the finalization of an issue paper...

09 September 2011

Querétaro: the world's first 'Blue Heart City'

In a move aimed at bolstering national efforts to combat and prevent human trafficking, Mexico became the first country in the world to adopt the UNODC-led Blue Heart Campaign against Human Trafficking in April 2010. As an international symbol to promote the rights of human trafficking victims, the Campaign encourages officials, civil society and members of the public across the globe to take a stand against what is a form of modern-day slavery. Last month, the city of Querétaro became the world's first municipality to join the Blue Heart Campaign.

26 August 2011

Human Trafficking First Aid Kit for Law Enforcement Agencies released as a sample carry case

The UNODC Human Trafficking First Aid Kit for Law Enforcement Agencies has been designed to support front-line officers who may come into contact with cases of human trafficking.

As well as a full e-version, the First Aid Kit has been released as a sample, or demonstration model carry case containing different types of concise yet useful information, providing guidance to first responders, who can play a vital role in determining the fate of a trafficked person by identifying indicators of human trafficking.

The First Aid Kit has been designed by the UNODC Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Unit in response to the need identified by many practitioners in different regions of the world to make easy-to-use information available to all law enforcement officers, to increase the identification of trafficked persons.

Read more and download the full package of the First Aid Kit here.

23 August 2011

Human Trafficking Training Film - Affected for Life - Language Versions Available

Training Film Affected for Life

Affected for Life promotes awareness of human trafficking. The film is targeted at prosecutors, judges, law enforcement officers and other specialized audiences, and illustrates the elements and different forms of human trafficking. The film is available in both full-length and abbreviated versions in English, with other official UN languages versions to follow.

22 August 2011

Model Law on Smuggling of Migrants available in Arabic - English - French - Russian - Spanish

The Model law against Smuggling of Migrants has been developed to assist States in implementing the provisions contained in the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. It aims to facilitate the review and amendment of existing legislation as well as the adoption of new legislation.

04 August 2011

Reinforcing Mexico's response to human trafficking: President Calderón recognizes role of Blue Heart Campaign
I n a move to toughen the law against human trafficking in Mexico, President Felipe Calderón recently signed a draft amendment to three articles of the country's Political Constitution. During a ceremony held at the official residence, President Calderón noted that the constitutional amendments would provide more protection for victims of human trafficking and afford Mexico better tools and laws to counter that crime in an efficient and coordinated manner.

27 July 2011

UN Postal Administration wins best stamps award for human trafficking and child labour issues

Photo: UNPA: Clarissa Fürnsinn (centre) receives award from Maurizio Stella, organizer of the event (left) and Bruno Crevato Selvaggi, moderator of the ceremony The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) has won a prestigious award for two stamp editions which highlight human trafficking and child labour. At the ceremony for the forty-first Asiago International Awards for Philatelic Art, held in Italy on 17 July, UNPA received the prize for "best stamps in the world" for 2010. The winning stamp sheets highlighted "Human Trafficking - Blue Heart Campaign (UNODC)" by UNPA Vienna and "Against Child Labour (ILO and GenevaWorld)" by UNPA Geneva.

21 July 2011

Training Workshop for Egyptian Police Officers on Combating Trafficking in Persons

In the framework of the project on "Strengthening the criminal justice capacity to disrupt key human trafficking routes in Egypt, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan", a training workshop for 30 Egyptian police officers was held by the UNODC Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior. The meeting took place at the Police Academy in Cairo, Egypt from 18 to 20 July 2011. The training workshop was based on the modules of the UNODC
Anti-Human Trafficking Manual for Criminal Justice Practitioners and aimed at strengthening the capacity of police officers both as first responders to human trafficking and as investigators of trafficking in persons cases.

15 July 2011

India's journey of hope: UNODC showcases inspiring initiatives to fight human trafficking

Balmani - a young girl from the rural part of Jharkhand (a State with a high number of human trafficking victims) who received livelihood training in housekeeping and is now able to support her mother's medical treatment. Chandni - a 14-year-old girl from Kishanganj, Bihar (another major source State for human trafficking), who narrowly escaped being sold to a 45-year-old stranger for marriage.

29 June 2011

India: Significance of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) to address human trafficking

In May 2011, Government of India ratified the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its three protocols. India is one of the five countries in South Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and very recently Nepal, to ratify the UNTOC.

On the occasion of the Indian Government ratifying the UNTOC, UNODC interviewed the Union Home Secretary, Mr G K Pillai, to understand the significance of the UNTOC and its three protocols for India, especially in the context of addressing human trafficking in the country and South Asia.

Read more here

20 June 2011

Protect human rights and workers' rights to end labour exploitation

Photo: UNODC Inequalities in income, education and opportunities are major root causes of human trafficking, inducing many to migrate to seek for a better life. Thousands of migrants instead become victims of labour exploitation, a new form of slavery that occurs on a massive scale. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is hosting a conference entitled "Preventing Trafficking in Human Beings for Labour Exploitation: Decent Work and Social Justice".

Read more here

08 June 2011

UNODC holds a Training Workshop for Egyptian Prosecutors on Investigating and Prosecuting Migrant Smuggling

UNODC holds a Training Workshop for Egyptian Prosecutors on Investigating and Prosecuting Migrant Smuggling A training workshop for 25 Egyptian prosecutors on the investigation and prosecution of migrant cases was held by the Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa in Cairo, Egypt during the period 24 to 26 May 2011.

Read more here

30 May 2011

The role of organized crime in the smuggling of migrants from West Africa to the European Union

A new report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) investigates the involvement of organized criminal groups in the smuggling of migrants from West Africa towards the European Union (EU). Information in the report was compiled by a team of researchers from West Africa and Europe using both documentary studies and field research conducted in Mali, the Niger, Nigeria and Spain.

Read more here

12 May 2011

Countering migrant smuggling in South-East Asia

Hanoi (Viet Nam) - From 10 to 12 May 2011, a Computer-Based Training (CBT) Needs Analysis Workshop on Smuggling of Migrants was conducted in Hanoi, Viet Nam. The workshop was held in order to gather valuable insights into the migrants smuggling situation in South-East Asia and consequently, identify the training needs for law enforcement officers.

Read more here

28 April 2011

Legal and Policy Review: Responses to Human Trafficking in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka

UNODC Anti-Trafficking Tools: Impact in Central America/ UNODC Manuales contra la trata de personas: Impacto en América Central

Tools developed by UNODC within the global programmes on trafficking person and smuggling of migrants are developed in such a way that they are practical and can be used to support the activities against these crimes. They can also serve as basis for adaptation to specific regional requirements an example of such an adaptation are two manuals developed by the UNODC regional office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Read more here.

Private sector crucial in fight against human trafficking

With more than 2.4 million people held captive across the world, human trafficking has become one of today's major crimes and issues of social concern.

To find new ways to tackle this scourge, the 'End Human Trafficking Now: Enforcing the UN Protocol Luxor International Forum' kicked off today bringing together policy makers, civil society and business leaders from around the world.

Read more here.

08 December 2010

A Compendium of Best Practices: UNODC launches the Toolkit to Combat Smuggling of Migrants

The First Edition Toolkit to Combat Smuggling of Migrants is designed as a compendium of promising practices that States can adopt as measures to counteract organized criminal syndicates, address the vulnerability of smuggled migrants, amongst the many other factors that States face in implementing the Migrant Smuggling Protocol.

Read more here.

02 December 2010

Addressing Trafficking in Persons since 1949

After about half a century, the most recent global effort to address this crime at the international level has been the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime which entered in force on 25 December 2003. The Trafficking in Persons Protocol for the first time provides a universally agreed upon definition of trafficking in persons. It addresses human trafficking as a crime including all forms of exploitation and all types of victims, seeking to balance law enforcement action with the rights of victims.

Read more here.

01 December 2010

Developing & Strengthening National Legislation: UNODC launches the Model Law against the Smuggling of Migrants

When natural disasters and conflict create unsafe situations for the people affected, and as unemployment and poverty increase, demand for movement far exceeds the possibilities to cross borders legally. The need for people to move may be exacerbated by human rights violations and persecution. Migrant smugglers supply to this demand, preying on vulnerable people for profit, often putting their safety and life at stake. Virtually every country in the world is affected by smuggling-related crimes. The challenge for all countries, rich and poor, is to target the criminals who exploit desperate people, and to protect and assist victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants, many of whom endure unimaginable hardships in their bid for a better life.

Read more here.

17 November 2010

An Exploration of Promising Practices in Response to Human Trafficking

The identification of concrete actions to help prevent human trafficking and support trafficking victims is an issue facing policy makers and practitioners at all levels. UNODC recently provided expert input to a provincial authority evaluating local actions and trying to bench mark these internationally.

Read more here.

11 November 2010

A United Voice to the Protection of Migrants

The vital work of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and others to respond to the complex and wide-ranging issues relating to migration, including trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, has been underlined at the world's foremost migration forum.

In her keynote speech Ms Navi Pillay, as Chair of the Global Migration forum (GMG), at the Fourth Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) in Mexico on 10 November 2010 stressed the need for international organizations to work constructively with Governments, civil society, social partners, national human rights institutions and other stakeholders, to respond to the multiple and multifaceted challenges presented by international migration. The speech also stated that migrants in irregular situations are oftentimes prone to exploitation by trafficking and smuggling organized crime groups.

Read more here.

05 November 2010

Experts discuss interventions and recommendations to improve access to compensation for trafficked persons

Compensation and redress to justice for victims of trafficking has wider implications in the fight against trafficking in persons. On a societal and moral level, it is symbolic to acknowledge the pain and suffering of victims. On a practical level, receipt of compensation provides victims with the finances to rebuild their lives. On a retributive level, when compensation is derived from seized assets of traffickers, this mechanism should work to punish and a deter perpetrators of this heinous crime.

Read more here.

04 November 2010

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher join Secretary-General to launch 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 UNODC, former trafficking victims, and New York Times journalist-author and Pulitzer Prize-winner Nicholas Kristof.

Read more here.

28 October 2010

Side Event on the Arab Initiative to combat human trafficking

The Side Event on the Arab Initiative to combat human trafficking took place during the Fifth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime Conference (UNTOC) on 21 October 2010.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the Governments of the Arab States to share information on the situation of human trafficking in their countries, related needs and ongoing efforts and cooperation.

Read more here.

11 October 2010

Narrowing the knowledge gap on migrant smuggling in Cambodia

Advocating "evidence-based" policy development, UNODC this year launched its Coordination and Analysis Unit on migrant smuggling, which aims to establish a regional and institutional mechanism to collect and analyse data on migrant smuggling within, through and from South-East Asia.

On 20 September, a joint working group meeting of representatives from the Government of Cambodia and UNODC was held to determine the steps that need to be taken in order to successfully implement the coordination and analysis project in Cambodia.

Read more here.

06 October 2010

Strengthening law enforcement capacity in investigating and prosecuting perpetrators of migrant smuggling

A three-day expert group meeting was held in Bangkok from 27 to 29 September.

The aim of the meeting was for the expert working group to discuss the elaboration of an in-depth training manual on investigating migrant smuggling and prosecuting offenders of that crime.

The finalized manual will make it easier to transfer expertise and best practices, and thereby strengthen the capacity of law enforcement authorities all over the world to deal with this issue.

Read more here.

04 October 2010

Bangkok Statement on Migration and Development calls for reducing impunity of migrant smugglers and human traffickers

From 22 to 24 September 2010, representatives of 31 Governments in Asia and the Pacific met in Bangkok for the Asia-Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Global Forum on Migration and Development 2010. On the last day of the meeting, the participants adopted the Bangkok Statement on Migration and Development.

The Bangkok Statement is to be submitted to the Global Forum on Migration and Development, to be held from 8 to 11 November 2010, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Read more here.

27 September 2010

India: A pledge and a commitment for safe and honorable tourism

On Monday, 27 September, one week before the official inauguration of the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, the Ministry of Tourism called for a pledge signing ceremony at the Hotel Ashok, New Delhi. Addressing the gathering, the Hon'ble Minister of Tourism and Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja said, "Through signing of this pledge on Safe & Honorable Tourism we are conveying a strong message to the world that neither we nor our organizations will be party to activities that exploit women and children.

Read more here.

23 September 2010

International community broadens efforts to help victims of human trafficking

23 September - The Group of Friends against Human Trafficking, a coalition of 20 countries, held its first ministerial meeting in New York to step up efforts against modern-day slavery.

Lending his weight to the initiative, Mr. Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of UNODC, lauded "the Group's commitment to promote decisive actions at national, regional and international levels to strengthen the fight against trafficking in persons".

Read more here.

15 September 2010

India: the bond of freedom

Interview with Mr Saju Mathew, National Director, International Justice Mission, India

Recently UNODC interviewed Mr. Mathew to understand what bonded labor means, its links to human trafficking and how to combat it.

UNODC: You have been working for International Justice Mission (IJM) for a while. Could you briefly explain the work of IJM in India?

IJM: IJM's mission is to secure justice for victims of violent oppression, and in India, we've found that this oppression often takes one of two forms: forced prostitution or bonded labour.

Read more here.

08 September 2010

In Colombia, beauty pageant contestants get involved in fighting human trafficking

In Colombia, organized criminals have clearly taken advantage of the national obsession with beauty pageants: a study conducted in 2009 by the National University of Colombia, the Ministry of the Interior and of Justice and UNODC found that modelling and beauty competitions were the most widely employed means used by traffickers to lure young women into exploitative situations, including for the purpose of prostitution.

Read more here.

01 September 2010

United Nations launches global plan of action against human trafficking

The United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons was adopted by the General Assembly on 30 July to urge Governments worldwide to take coordinated and consistent measures to try to defeat the scourge.

The Plan calls for integrating the fight against human trafficking into the United Nations' broader programmes to boost development and strengthen security around the world.

It also calls for the setting up of a United Nations voluntary trust fund for victims of trafficking, especially women and children.

Read more here.

27 August 2010

The Body Shop and ECPAT in association with UNODC organize mega event on Prevention of Human Trafficking called "BIG STOP - Petition Launch"

The Body Shop and ECPAT UK (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) have launched a global campaign to stop human trafficking and to provide care and protection for children rescued from trafficking by signing on a petition.

As part of the global campaign already launched in various parts of the world, the Body Shop in India and the Regional UNODC Office for South Asia will launch the campaign in India on 27 August 2010 at 4 pm in The Atrium, Select City Walk Mall, New Delhi, India.

High profile supporters and celebrities from all over the world have been providing their handprints to show their support of the campaign, including Robert Pattinson, Joanna Lumley, Sienna Miller, Yoko Ono and Rob Lowe. For this event in India, famous Bollywood actresses - Ms. Chitrangda Singh and Ms. Nafisa Ali along with Ms. Cristina Albertin, UNODC Representative for South Asia will participate at the launch.

Read more here.

19 August 2010

UNODC South Asia - India: Freedom Express - a girl rescued from the brothels boards train to return home

Kakoli is a survivor of human trafficking rescued recently by the Delhi Police and Shakti Vahini, a non profit organisation, from the largest 'red light' district in New Delhi, also known as the Garstin Bastion (G.B.) Road. UNODC met her at the railway station to learn about her real story - how she was trafficked to and treated at the brothels and about her miraculous escape.

Read more here.

13 August 2010

UNODC boosts Cambodian border control capacity

The growing volume of trade between Cambodia and its neighbouring countries means that Cambodian border officers, often operating with poor facilities, insufficient specialized knowledge and limited budget, are requested to carry out timely and effective controls on increasing human and vehicle traffic.

Criminal networks take advantage of these loopholes at the borders to smuggle migrants and to traffic in drugs, wildlife, forest products and hazardous waste, as well as human beings.

Read more here.

04 August 2010

Indonesia to participate in reviewing implementation of the Organized Crime Convention

Indonesia has ratified the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the Convention, on 28 September 2009 and has volunteered to be one of the 13 States, together with Chile, Colombia, Egypt, France, El Salvador, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Romania, Serbia, and the United States of America, to participate in the pilot programme.

Read more here.

30 July 2010

Human trafficking is a crime that strips people of their rights,

exploits people's dream of a better future, robs people of their dignity.

It can cause physical and psychological damage it can even kill.

BAN KI- Moon, 19 September 2007

General Assembly Adopts Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Reaffirming Commitment on Protecting Victims, Prosecuting Perpetrators

The General Assembly (GA) this afternoon adopted by consensus, as orally revised, a resolution on the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, deciding also to establish a trust fund for victims, especially women and children.

The Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons would be launched formally in a one-day, high-level meeting in the near future, the Assembly decided, as the resolution reaffirmed the commitment by Member States to end the "heinous crime", to protect and assist victims, to prosecute perpetrators and to promote partnerships to strengthen cooperation for those purposes.

Read more here.

Click here to view the GA page on human trafficking.

12 to 13 July 2010

Senior Experts meet in Vienna to discuss first draft of the International Framework for Action to Implement the Migrant Smuggling Protocol

From 12 July to 13 July 2010, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) headquarters hosted an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) to review draft material to include into the forthcoming Framework for Action to Implement the Migrant Smuggling Protocol. This initiative follows on from UNODC's work in 2009 to develop the International Framework for Action to Implement the Trafficking in Person Protocol, a technical assistance tool that supports United Nations Member States in the effective implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (United Nations Trafficking Protocol), supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).

Read more here.

28 to 30 June 2010

UNODC hosts an expert group meeting (EGM) to address trafficking in persons for the purpose of organ removal

From 28-30 June 2010, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) hosted an expert group meeting (EGM) to address trafficking in persons for the purpose of organ removal. The key purpose of the meeting was to develop materials to assess this form of trafficking. The EGM saw the participation of experienced experts from different regions of the world, of various professional backgrounds including; medical health care, criminal justice, law enforcement and academia.

Read more here.

21 to 25 June 2010

High level experts from origin, transit and destination countries gather in Vienna to enhance the capacity to prevent and combat the smuggling of migrants

From 21 June to 25 June 2010, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) hosted an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) that brought together over twenty law enforcement and criminal justice practitioners to further elaborate an In-depth Training Manual on Investigating and Prosecuting Migrant Smuggling.

The EGM was conducted at UNODC's Headquarters in Vienna. The meeting was made possible through funding received from the European Union.

Experts came from various regions including West and South Africa, South Asia and the Pacific, Western and Eastern Europe, North, Central and South America, guaranteeing representation from various legal systems and from origin, transit and destination countries.

Read more here.

06 July 2010

UNODC launches Literature Review to discuss the Smuggling of Migrants into, through and from North Africa

The publication, Smuggling of migrants into, through and from North Africa: A thematic review and annotated bibliography of recent publications is the second in a series of unique publications produced by UNODC. The initial publication, Global Review on Migrant Smuggling gave an overarching analysis of existing literature on migrant smuggling at a global level. The current publication focuses primarily on the patterns and dynamics of migrant smuggling, as it concerns the North African region. Recognizing, however, that irregular migration and smuggling flows are transnational in nature, the review goes beyond North Africa, to also cover sub- Saharan African and European countries affected along the various smuggling routes.

Read more here

01 July 2010

UNODC launches Basic Training Manual on Investigating and Prosecuting the Smuggling of Migrants

UNODC's Basic Training Manual on Investigating and Prosecuting the Smuggling of Migrants was launched during a side-event to the 19th Annual Crime Commission held in Vienna 17-19 May 2010.

Against the backdrop of the smuggling of Migrants Protocol, and as part of a larger, comprehensive response, UNODC launched a process in 2008 to elaborate basic training modules on preventing and combating the smuggling of migrants. The process was undertaken in cooperation with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the European Police Office (Europol) and the United Kingdom Police Organization (SOCA) and, most importantly, with the active participation of experienced practitioners working all over the world to investigate and prosecute those who smuggle migrants. Three working meeting were organized in Egypt, Nigeria and Senegal involving investigators and prosecutors from 30 countries, including both common and civil law countries.

Read more about the launch here.

28 June 2010

UNODC announces the launch of the Needs Assessment Toolkit on the Criminal Justice Response to Human Trafficking

UNODC, in the framework of the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) has developed the Needs Assessment Toolkit on the Criminal Justice Response to Human Trafficking.

The main objective of the toolkit is to guide the assessors in gathering and analyzing information pertaining to a country's criminal justice response to human trafficking. More specifically, it aims to assist governments, the civil society, the international community and other relevant actors to conduct a comprehensive or specific assessment of selected aspects of a country's criminal justice response to trafficking in persons.

Read more here.

11 June 2010

Anti-Human Trafficking Manual for Criminal Justice Practitioners now available in Spanish

10 June 2010

India: Rebuilding lives at the shelter care home in Tamil Nadu

The shelter care home for boys in Chennai, India is situated in a large compound with trees and has four bigclassrooms. They are simple but alive with colourful displays of hand paintings, intricate paper cuttings and children's laughter. The boys wear blue coordinated uniforms. There is enough activity to keep them busy - reading, drawing, playing games, theatre and singing.

Read more here.

10 June 2010

UNODC Launches Global Review on Migrant Smuggling

UNODC is currently developing and implementing a number of new projects to assess and counter the various threats posed by human smuggling. To do so effectively, and to learn from already existing research on migrant smuggling for current and future programme design, it is imperative to gain an overview of the current state of knowledge on the subject by consolidating the existing literature on the subject in one comprehensive and informative background document.

Read more here.

1 June 2010

UNODC- CBSS Joint Assessment Report Launched

On the 31 ^st May 2010 UNODC and the Council of the Baltic Sea States Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings (CBSS TF-THB) successfully completed the joint "Regional Project on Fostering Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) - Law Enforcement Cooperation in Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking in, from and to the Baltic Sea Region."

Read more here.

26 to 27 May 2010

Capacity building workshop for magistrates and law enforcement officers on investigating and prosecuting Smuggling of Migrants delivered under IMPACT Programme

UNODC in cooperation with the Ministries of Justice of Burkina Faso and OCRIEST - the French law enforcement body responsible for investigating migrant smuggling - delivered a two-day training course on migrant smuggling in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

Read more here.

19 May 2010

What do we know about the involvement of transnational organized crime in trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants? An update.

In May 2010, senior experts met to discuss the study conducted by UNODC in partnership with the Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy (Ghent University), on the involvement of organized crime, trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants. UNODC organized a panel discussion in the margins of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

Read more and view the panel discussion here.

14 May 2010

What do we know about the involvement of transnational organized crime in trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants?

In order to attempt providing, if not a response, but leads towards it, UNODC in partnership with the Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy (IRCP) of Ghent University, initiated a study focusing on the role of organized crime in trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants cases.

Building on the momentum of the Crime Congress, which addressed in its plenary sessions the topic of Criminal Justice Responses to Smuggling of Migrants and Trafficking in Persons: Links to Organized Crime and the outcome of this study, UNODC organizes, in the margins of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, a panel discussion with experts from research institutes, Member States and international organizations on Wednesday 19 May 2010, from 1 to 3pm in room M2 at the Vienna International Centre.

Read more here.

12 May 2010

Tamil Nadu, India: The female face of migration

Annually, hundreds of unskilled mainly male workers, migrate to the Gulf States and Southeast Asia often ending up doing "dirty, dangerous and difficult jobs". Usually concerns about migrants relate to poor working conditions or even exploitation. But there is another face - of those that are left behind - the spouses of migrants. Read the story of Raziya and Suneetha, who wait for their husbands' return.

Read more here.

5 May 2010

Tamil Nadu, India: Different faces of migration

Every year, over 100,000 young men and women leave the villages in Tamil Nadu situated in the southern coastal belt of India, packed with hopes of a better life and profitable work in Southeast Asia and the Gulf countries. This is the story of 26 year old Murugesh who migrated with big dreams, only to return with shattered ones.

Read more here.

15 and 16 April 2010

12th United Nations Crime Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice addresses human trafficking and migrant smuggling

The 12th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice provided participants with a unique opportunity to explore two key issues. The first issue discussed was the link between organized crime, trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants and how the knowledge of these links should in turn shape a more effective criminal justice response to these crimes. The second key issue discussed was that of how to prevent violence against migrants, migrant workers and their families, and provide an appropriate criminal justice response to this violence.

Read more here.

14 April 2010

Mexico takes lead in launching national campaign against human trafficking, Mexico City, Mexico

Photo: UNODC: UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa (left) with Mexican President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, at the launch of the Mexico "Blue Heart"campaign against human trafficking, in Mexico City Mexico today took the lead in putting human trafficking on the global agenda by launching its own national version of the United Nations "Blue Heart" campaign against human trafficking.

President Felipe Calderón of Mexico and UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa launched the Mexico campaign in Mexico City.

Read more here.

11 to 19 April 2010

Crime Congress: substantive items related to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants

Trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants represent serious manifestations of transnational and other forms of organized crime.

The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, together with the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, demonstrate the need to effectively implement a broad range of responses to tackle the problem comprehensively. This highlights the importance of capacity building and training programmes to enhance the efficiency of crime prevention and criminal justice responses to these crimes, thus ensuring the criminalization of the criminals, the protection of the rights of migrants and of victim s of trafficking, and the prevention of these crimes.

The Crime Congress, to be held in Salvador, Brazil 11-19 April 2010, will dedicate two plenary sessions to the discussion of criminal justice responses to the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons and their links to organized crime, as well as crime prevention and criminal justice responses to the violence against migrants, migrant workers and their families. The background documents, drafted by the Secertariat with the support of partners such as UNICRI, TransCrime and the NIJ, offer Member States an overview of the issues related to trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, the involvement of organized crime and the particular manifestations of violence against migrants, migrant workers and their families. The documents also offer conclusions and suggest recommendations for the consideration by Member States.

See all Crime Congress documentation here

Item 6 of the provisional agenda

Item 10 of the provisional agenda

The plenary sessions for these items are to take place on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 April 2010. The outcome of the deliberations on these topics will be available on the page of the Crime Congress in due course.

8 April 2010

Cambodia participates in Regional Data Collection and Analysis on Migrant Smuggling

On 8 April 2010, Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Sar Kheng, Minister of the Interior of the Royal Government of Cambodia, and Mr. Gary Lewis, UNODC Representative for East Asia and the Pacific, signed a letter of agreement on Cambodia's participation in the regional project entitled Smuggling of Migrants: Establishment and Operation of a Coordination and Analysis Unit for East Asia and the Pacific.

Read more here.

1 April 2010

Parliamentarians around the world unite against organized crime

Today, the 122nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) ended with the adoption of the IPU Resolution on Cooperation and Shared Responsibility in the Global Fight against Organized Crime, in particular Drug Trafficking, Illegal Arms Trafficking, Human Trafficking and Cross-Border Terrorism. In its Resolution, the Drafting Committee of the First Standing Commitee decided to highlight that " migrant smuggling is often facilitated by organized crime networks, generating huge profits for the smugglers, while exposing irregular migrants to serious personal risks and making them vulnerable to trafficking" and insist on a clear call to IPU Member Parliaments to ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its supplementary Protocols.

Read more here.

1 April 2010

UNODC Migrant Smuggling Issue Papers launched online

UNODC's Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Unit offers occasional Issue Papers on aspects of the crime of migrant smuggling and the global response to it. Issue Papers bring together expertise from practitioners around the world in an effort to support information sharing between those working in various capacities to preventIslamic migrant smuggling, protect smuggled migrants and prosecute those who commit the crime.

The first paper to launch the series is Issue Paper: A Short Introduction to Migrant Smuggling which offers a brief overview of the crime of migrant smuggling.

The second paper released is Issue Paper: Migrant Smuggling by Air, which brings together expertise shared in the framework of an expert group meeting held in Vienna in December 2009. This Issue Paper explores the particular modus operandi of smuggling migrants by air and the challenges in responding to it and makes some recommendations about strengthening and coordinating response to this issue.

26 March 2010

India: My Life in the Red Lights of Sonagachi

This is the story of Munni, a commercial sex worker from Sonagachi, the largest red-light district in Kolkata, India. Sonagachi, translated as Golden Tree, has several hundred multistory brothels built in the winding lanes and is home to some 10,000 sex workers.

UNODC interviewed Munni, sixteen years old, who shares how she was trafficked, made her escape, returned to the brothels and how the economy of her trade works.

Read Munni's story here.

22 to 23 March 2010

The Arab Initiative for building national capacities for combating human trafficking launched in Doha, Qatar

The Arab Initiative to combat human trafficking was launched during the Doha Foundation Forum 2010, a regional conference aimed at consulting and exchanging views from relevant stakeholders in the Middle East and North Africa region and building political consensus for future regional action against human trafficking. The Arab Initiative aims to build national capacities for the 22 Arab League States to effectively prevent and combat human trafficking. The main partners of the project are the Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking (QFCHT), the League of Arab States and UNODC.

"The fact that trafficking in persons occurs today is a horrifying reality. The fact that there is more we could be doing collectively to combat it should be a global call to arms." (UNODC Toolkit to Combat Trafficking in Persons).

The 123 tools contained in the Toolkit offer guidance, recommended resources, and promising practices to policymakers, law enforcers, judges, prosecutors, victim service providers and members of civil society who are working in interrelated spheres towards preventing trafficking, protecting and assisting victims and promoting international cooperation.

Download the Toolkit in Arabic or for other languages visit our Tools and Publications Page. Also see the Online Toolkit.

11 February 2010

Trafficking Survivors in India earn their livelihoods as security guards

A Jharkhand based organization, Bharati Kisan Sangh (BKS) has taken a positive step to help rehabilitate survivors of trafficking through livelihood skills with the hope of reintegrating them back into society. In 2009, BKS introduced an innovative security guard training course, to promote livelihood options for adolescent tribal women in rural areas. It places women's security and human rights at the centre of its efforts, promoting women's rights, opportunities and capacities through this initiative. With support from UNODC and with an aim to create sustainable livelihood options to protect and prevent women from being trafficked, BKS, facilitated the establishment of a placement agency to ensure employment for trafficking survivors in the age group of 18-25 years.

Read more here.

27 - 29 January 2010

Expert panelists address the Second Meeting of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons

On the 27 ^th to the 29 ^th of January 2010, the Second Meeting of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons was held in Vienna, Austria. Expert panelists opened each substantive session by sharing experiences from the contexts of their own countries.

Read more here.

28 January 2010

Side event to the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons: UNODC Technical Assistance Briefing

In the margins of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, UNODC hosted a side event to brief delegates on the technical assistance UNODC offers to States parties in combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

Read more here.

27 January 2010

Side event to the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons: Vienna Launch of the Framework for Action to Implement the Trafficking in Persons Protocol

In the margins of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons the International Framework for Action to Implement the Trafficking in Persons Protocol was launched in Vienna.

Read more here.

27 - 29 January 2010

Second Meeting on the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons to be Held in Vienna

More information about the meeting and relevant side events can be found here

Information for Participants can be found here

26-29 January 2010

Joining forces to stem the deadly business of migrant smuggling by Sea: a Conference on Transnational Organized Crime in the Mediterranean Region held in Athens, Greece

UNODC jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, organized a regional conference on transnational organized crime - particularly migrant smugging by sea - from 26 to 29 January 2010 in Athens, Greece. The purpose of the conference was to strengthen and foster law enforcement cooperation and thereby enhance the capacities of authorities responsible for combating the smuggling of migrants by sea in the Mediterranean region.

Read more here.

26 - 27 January 2010

Capacity Building Workshop for Magistrates and Law Enforcement Officers on Transnational Organized Crime, Particularly Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, under IMPACT Project

UNODC in cooperation with the Ministries of Justice of Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire, OCRIEST - the French law enforcement body responsible for investigating migrant smuggling - and JIRS - the French prosecutorial body specialized in fighting organized crime - delivered a two-day training course on migrant smuggling for 65 magistrates and law enforcers from Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo. This training was the third of a series of trainings for investigators and prosecutors that will be implemented under the Impact Programme both on a national and regional level in North and West Africa over a period of 12 months.

Read more here.

14 January 2010

Community and Police come together in India to combat trafficking of women and children

UNODC in collaboration with Action against Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children (ATSEC), organized a two-day training on community policing for police officers from different districts of West Bengal, India.

Community policing builds on the notion that community interaction and support can help in controlling crime. Community policing requires partnering with the police and citizens and rests on the belief that law-abiding members of the community deserve participation in police processes.

The two-day training, introduced concepts related to human trafficking, laws and procedures under the Indian Penal Code and the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act (ITPA), community policing and different investigating techniques. The training also covered post rescue care and attention to survivors, health care psycho-social counseling and mental health intervention. A police sub-inspector who participated in the training commented, "when I came I didn't know what community policing was and neither was I so oriented to the issue of trafficking. Police personnel receive very little training but sessions like these are really useful and I am much more aware now."

Read more here.

7 - 11 December 2009

Regional Training Workshop on Investigating and Prosecuting Migrant Smuggling, Abuja, Nigeria

Between 7 and 11 December 2009, a regional workshop was held on investigating and prosecuting migrant smuggling, to test UNODC's Basic Training Manual on investigating and prosecuting migrant smuggling.

Read more here.

7-9 December 2009

International Expert Group Meeting on Migrant Smuggling by Air in Vienna, Austria

Between 7 and 9 December 2009, senior law enforcement experts met in Vienna, Austria, to share their expertise on preventing and combating the smuggling of migrants by air.

Read more here.

7-9 December 2009

Expert Group Meeting to Review the Model Law on Combating the Smuggling of Migrants in Cairo, Egypt

9 October 2009

New York, United States of America

Launch of the International Framework for Action to Implement the Trafficking in Persons Protocol

The International Framework for Action to Implement the Trafficking in Persons Protocol was launched at the United Nations in New York today. Attending the launch was Ms. Doris Buddenburg, UNODC/UN.GIFT, as well as the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Ms. Joy Ezeilo and Mr. Mohammed Mattar, Research Professor of Law and Executive Director of The Protection Project, Johns Hopkins University.

The International Framework for Action is a technical assistance tool that supports United Nations Member States in the effective implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (United Nations Trafficking Protocol), supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).

The International Framework for Action came about as a result of the Government of France requesting that UNODC provide its support and expertise to analyze all aspects of existing national and regional anti-human trafficking policy and coordination mechanisms in order to support improved implementation of the Trafficking in Persons Protocol. UNODC undertook a desk review of existing instruments, strategies and plans of action (both national and regional) to combat trafficking in persons. It has also reviewed Member States' reports on the implementation of the Trafficking in Persons Protocol and reports of the Chief Executives Board on the role of the United Nations entities and other relevant organizations.

Ms Buddenburg stressed that the International Framework for Action is the result of true inter-agency cooperation, combining distinct view and approaches of key organizations working in the fight against trafficking.Expertise was provided in the course of consultations and meetings by a anti-trafficking partners including Anti-Slavery International, Council of Europe, End child prostitution, child pornography and trafficking of children for sexual purposes (ECPAT), International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Labour Organization (ILO), Intervention Centre for Victims of Trafficking in Women (LEFOE-IBF), Organization of American States (OAS), Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Terre des homes International Federation (Tdh), The Protection Project, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies,United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women/Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDAW/DESA), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Read more about the International Framework for Action and other anti-trafficking tools and publications here.

30 September - 2 October 2009

Budva, Montenegro

Workshop to develop guidelines on International Legal Cooperation Instruments in the area of anti-human trafficking and migrant smuggling

18 September 2009

Geneva, New York, Vienna

Today, ILO, UNICEF and Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking ( UN.GIFT) launched the 'Training manual to fight trafficking in children for labour, sexual and other forms of exploitation

This manual on fighting trafficking is unique in that it specifically focuses on children, includes a special emphasis on labour issues, and is geared towards training. It is comprised of textbooks for self study and an exercise book with a menu of assignment options that trainers can choose from for tailor-made training courses. It also includes a facilitators' guide for use by those facilitating training. The manual addresses the needs of governments; workers' and employers' organizations; and NGOs and international agencies working at the policy and outreach level.

The publication is the result of an Expert Group Initiative on child trafficking, led by ILO and UNICEF, and implemented under the United Nations Global Initiative to fight trafficking ( UN.GIFT)

28 August 2009

Anti-Human Trafficking Training Manual launched today at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok (Thailand)

Today at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, the United Nations Anti-Human Trafficking Manual for Criminal Justice Practitioners was launched by US Ambassador-at-large, Luis CdeBaca, in the presence of several practitioners from the Thai government and UN authorities, as well as members of the media and civil society.

In line with the Trafficking in Persons Protocol supplementing the United Nations Organized Crime Convention, the purpose of the Anti-Human Trafficking Manual for Criminal Justice Practitioners is to support criminal justice practitioners in the prevention of human trafficking, the protection of its victims, the prosecution of its culprits and in the international cooperation needed to achieve these goals.

The Anti-Human Trafficking Manual for Criminal Justice Practitioners is the result of a global cooperative process in which expert representatives from academia, NGOs, international organizations, law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges from all over the world contributed their expertise and experiences.

7 August 2009

Unprecedented Court of Women hears testimonies from the trafficked and sexually exploited
Nusa Dua, Bali (Indonesia)

Read more here

3 - 4 August 2009

Regional Workshop on the Role of NGOs in Preventing the Smuggling of Migrants

Read more here

16 July 2009

Mexico and UNODC to launch the Blue Heart Campaign in early 2010

Read more here

15 - 16 July 2009

Experts support draft law to combat migrant smuggling in Côte d'Ivoire

Read more here

11 July 2009

President Obama praises conviction of human traffickers in Ghana

In his remarks to the Ghanaian Parliament on 11 July 2009, US President Barack Obama praised Ms. Patience Quaye for her role in the successful human trafficking prosecution in Ghana.

Read more here

6 - 7 July 2009

Workshop on International Criminal Justice Cooperation in Response to Migrant Smuggling held in Cairo Egypt

From 6 to 7 of July, law enforcers and prosecutors from several countries in North and West africa met to discuss criminal justice cooperation in response to the challenges of combating migrant smuggling.

To read more about the workshop, click here.

30 June 2009

UNODC launches Model Law against Trafficking in Persons

The UNODC Model Law against Trafficking in Persons was developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in response to the request of the General Assembly to the Secretary-General to promote and assist the efforts of Member States to become party to and implement the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto.

The UNODC Model Law against Trafficking in Persons has been developed to assist States in implementing the provisions contained in the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing that Convention. It will facilitate the review and amendment of existing legislation as well as the adoption of new legislation. It has been designed to be adaptable to the needs of each State, whatever its legal tradition and social, economic, cultural and geographical conditions. The Model Law covers not only the criminalization of trafficking in persons and related offences, but also the different aspects of assistance to victims as well as establishing cooperation between different state authorities and NGOs. Each provision is accompanied by a detailed commentary, providing several options for legislators, as appropriate, and legal sources and examples.

The UNODC Model Law against Trafficking in Persons was developed by the Organized Crime and Criminal Justice Section of the Division for Treaty Affairs in cooperation with the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Unit (AHTMSU) of the Division for Operations and the Statistics and Surveys Section of the Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs. Two consultant drafters, Marjan Wijers and Roelof Haveman, assisted UNODC. A group of experts in the field of anti-human trafficking, from a variety of legal and geographical backgrounds met to discuss and review the draft Model Law.

Download the UNODC Model Law against Trafficking in Persons

See more UNODC Legal Tools and Model Legislation

See more anti-human trafficking Tools and Publications

23 June 2009

UNODC Paper 'Combating Trafficking in Persons in Accordance with the Principles of Islamic Law' launched in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Download the paper 'Combating Trafficking in Persons in Accordance with the Principles of Islamic Law'

See more anti-human trafficking Tools and Publications

22 - 24 June 2009

Final Expert Group Meeting to Elaborate UNODC Basic Training Modules on Preventing and Combating Migrant Smuggling held in Abuja, Nigeria

Between 22 and 24 June, expert law enforcers and prosecutors from around the world met in Abuja, Nigeria to provide practical input to the elaboration of UNODC basic training modules on preventing and combating the Smuggling of Migrants.

To read more about the EGM, click here.

16 June 2009

African Union launches AU.COMMIT - an initiative to fight human trafficking in Africa

The African Union has chosen the Day of the African Child, celebrated today, to launch AU.COMMIT, an initiative to fight human trafficking in Africa. This campaign seeks to make the fight against trafficking in persons a priority on the development agenda of the continent. It also calls on African States to build on the Ouagadougou Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, which guides African Union member States in developing and reforming their policies and laws on trafficking in persons.

As the guardian of an international anti-human trafficking instrument and as the provider of technical assistance, UNODC supports AU.COMMIT. UNODC also collaborates with the African Union under the framework of the implementation of the Union's Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention.

To read more about AU.COMMIT click here.

12 June 2009

Joint Project between Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings (TF-THB) of the Council of the Baltic Sea States and UNODC showcased online

UNODC and the Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings (TF-THB) of the Council of Baltic Sea States, are jointly implementing a project on fostering cooperation between different governmental institutions and non-governmetnal actors in preventing and combating human trafficking in, from and to the Baltic Sea Region.

The project is now showcased online on the Council of Baltic Sea States website here.

9 June 2009

UNODC regional project in Central America as a platform for the promotion of good practices on the investigation of trafficking in persons in the Americas

The Ibero American Association of Public Prosecutors Offices (AIAMP) - the highest political penal prosecution instance in the Central American region - has recognized the UNODC project against trafficking in persons (XCAS26) in Central America as a model program to be replicated in other countries.

To find out why, click here.

4 June 2009

UNODC Regional Office for South Asia spoke with Professor Zakir Hossain about the human trafficking situation and response to it in Bangladesh. Professor Zakir Hossain is the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Chittagong in Bangladesh and a Member of the Judicial Service Commission, in the context of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) training on combating human trafficking for law enforcement officers.

To read the full interview, click here.

22 May 2009

UNODC and European Commission partnership: Promoting the implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, and the Protocol against Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, both supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

UNODC and the European Commission are partnering to implement a global project aiming to promote the implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, and the Protocol against Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, both supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

The project, funded mainly by the European Commission, will be carried out over a period of 3 years:

(i) To advocate for global adherence to the Smuggling and Trafficking Protocols and to support UN Member States in their ratification and/or accession efforts by assisting them in bringing their legal frameworks in compliance with the requirements of these instruments

(ii) To assist governments in strengthening their capacities, in particular of their criminal justice systems, to effectively prevent, investigate, prosecute and adjudicate cases of trafficking in persons (TiP) and smuggling of migrants (SoM) including through cooperation with third countries, while protecting the rights of smuggled migrants as well as assisting and protecting victims of human trafficking, including through appropriate prevention programmes and awareness campaigns.

Activities will be carried around the world in beneficiary countries agreed upon by the Steering Committee of the project, composed of representatives of UNODC and of the EC reaching out to legislators, parliamentarians, criminal justice practitioners and non-governmental organizations. The final beneficiaries of this project will be actual and potential victims of trafficking in persons and smuggled migrants.

UNODC welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with the European Commission to tackle such crimes.

20 May 2009

UNODC Regional Office for South Asia showcases good practice in preventing human trafficking and protecting its victims. Stop Trafficking and Oppression of Children and Women (STOP) a non-governmental organisation follows a human rights based approach to the prevention of trafficking in women mainly for sexual exploitation. Working with a strong and diverse network of partners, STOP works to reduce gender discrimination in society to address root causes of trafficking.

For more, click here.

19 May 2009

Paintings from "Welcome to Gulu", an art exhibition that was held at United Nations Headquarters, are now available for viewing and purchase at the prestigious Lehmann Maupin Gallery in Manhattan.

The exhibition features some 200 paintings by former child soldiers and abducted girls from Gulu, northern Uganda, who benefited from an art therapy project by acclaimed New York artist Ross Bleckner last January.

The children's paintings will be on sale until 13 June 2009. Proceeds from the sale will go towards helping the children of Gulu in Uganda.

To read more about the exhibition, click here.

5 - 7 May 2009

The Regional Office of UNODC in Central Asia in coordination with the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, recently held a workshop in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on "International and national mechanisms of combating human trafficking and protection of victims of human trafficking."

To read more about the workshop, click here.

April 2009

UNODC and UKHTC (United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre) enter into strategic partnership.

Read more here.

20 April 2009

The anti-human trafficking and migrants smuggling unit of UNODC has recently published two new leaflets on smuggling of migrants, describing the issue as a "deadly business". The brochure offers unprecedent information on the smuggling of migrants and their related activities as well as latest trends and patterns. View the leaflet.

25 March 2009

UNODC hosts second expert group meeting on the elaboration of basic training modules on preventing and combating migrant smuggling

25 March 2009

serbia joint programme The UNODC Regional Programme Office for South East Europe (RPOSEE), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Mission to Serbia and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission to Serbia organized two roundtables in Belgrade on the joint programme in the area of Anti-Human Trafficking in Serbia which was developed under the UN.GIFT.

Joint programme event in Serbia

5 March 2009

UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa launches the Blue Heart Campaign against Human Trafficking

To read about the launch of the Blue Heart Campaign click here

To join the Blue Heart Campaign, visit the Blue Heart website

26 February 2009

UNODC launches regional assessment on penal prosecution capacities to investigate trafficking in persons in Central America

The findings of 22 workshops with law enforcement, penal prosecution and judicial authorities conducted during 2008 by UNODC in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama have been put together in a regional report which analyses in depth the political, legal, institutional and technical conditions to investigate trafficking in persons. The report also provides practical recommendations to overcome gaps in the prosecution of traffickers. The UNODC regional study is to be complemented by the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons that was launched on 12 February 2009.

To read more about the regional assessment on penal prosecution capacities to investigate trafficking in persons in Central America, click here.

23 to 25 February 2009

UNODC hosts fourth meeting on Enhancing Operational Capacity to Investigate and Disrupt Human Trafficking Activities in the Western Balkans

The UNODC Regional Programme Office for South East Europe (RPOSEE) organized the fourth meeting of the Project: "Enhancing Operational Capacity to Investigate and Disrupt Human Trafficking Activities in the Western Balkans", which was held in Tirana, Albania from 23 to 25 February 2009.

To read more about the meeting, click here.

12 February 2009

UNODC launches Global Report on Trafficking in Persons

Based on data gathered from 155 countries, UNODC's Global Report on Trafficking in Persons is based on data gathered from 155 countries. It offers the first global assessment of the scope of human trafficking and what is being done to fight it. It includes: an overview of trafficking patterns; legal steps taken in response; and country-specific information on reported cases of trafficking in persons, victims, and prosecutions. The report was launched on 12 February at the United Nations Headquarters New York, by United Nations Under-Secretary General, Antonia Maria Costa, UNODC Executive Director.

To read the executive summary in Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Russian and Arabic, click here

To read more about the report, click here.

To see Human Trafficking: Photo Stories released on the occasion of the launch of the Global Report, click here.

For more publications, visit our publications page.

12 February 2009

Academy-Award winning actress Mira Sorvino appointed as a UNODC Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Human Trafficking

Ms Sorvino was inducted as a UNODC Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Human Trafficking during a high-level panel discussion on human trafficking, and the launch of the UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons.

To read more about Ms Sorvino and her appointment as a UNODC Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Human Trafficking click here

18 December 2008

UNODC launches Online Toolkit to Combat Trafficking in Persons

Toolkit 2nd edition

UNODC's Toolkit to Combat Trafficking in Persons aims to offer guidance, recommended resources, and promising practices to policymakers, law enforcers, judges, prosecutors, victim service providers and members of civil society who are working in interrelated spheres towards preventing traffickng, protecting and assisting victims and promoting international cooperation. All 123 Tools are now downloadable as individual files online.

Visit the Online Toolkit to Combat Trafficking in Persons

or download a full version of the Toolkit at our Tools and Publications page.

30 November 2008 - 3 December 2008

Expert Group Meeting to Elaborate Basic Training Modules on Preventing and Combating the Smuggling of Migrants

Between 30 November and 2 December 2008, expert law enforcers and prosecutors from around the world gathered in Saly, Senegal, to share their experience in investigating and prosecuting migrant smuggling with a view to providing practical input to the elaboration of basic training modules on preventing and combating the Smuggling of Migrants.

For more about the Expert Group Meeting, click here.

15 November 2008

Colloquium on Justice Delivery in Human Trafficking Crimes, India

On the 15 November 2008, UNODC's Regional Office for South Asia teamed with the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) of India to organize a one day Colloquium on Justice Delivery in Human Trafficking Crimes for Judicial Officers, Prosecutors and Police Officers in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The colloquium involved all three wings of the criminal justice system, from all over India. Participants also included representatives from the media, UN agencise, civil society partners and students as observers. More than 250 senior officials attended this event.

For more about the Colloquium, click here or visit the website of UNODC's Regional Office for South Asia.

20 October 2008

UNODC launches report on trafficking in Lebanon

According to a newly released national report, only 60 cases involving victims of human trafficking are officially identified every year in Lebanon. For more information about this report, click here or download the report.

For more publications, visit our publications page.

15 October 2008

UNODC hosts event to discuss challenges in the delivery of technical assistance

Geeta addresses audience During the Conference of Parties, UNODC's anti-human trafficking and migrant smuggling unit hosted an event to explore challenges in implementating the Trafficking in Persons Protocol, specifically, the delivery of technical assistance. Presentations were made by representates from UNODC's offices in Mexico and Central America, Eastern Africa and India.

9 October 2008

UNODC releases new Toolkit to Combat Trafficking in Persons

Like the Trafficking in Persons Protocol, the overarching goals of the Toolkit are to prevent and combat trafficking, protect and assist its victims, and promote international cooperation. It is hoped that in providing guidance, showing promising practices and recommending resources, the Toolkit may inspire and assist policymakers, law enforcers, judges, prosecutors, victim service providers and members of civil society who are working in interconnected spheres towards these same objectives.

The Toolkit dedicates chapters to the thematic areas of:

1. International Legal Framework

2. Problem Assessment and Strategy Development

3. Legislative Framework

4. International Criminal Justice Cooperation

5. Law Enforcement and Prosecution

6. Victim Identification

7. Immigration Status of Victims and their Return and Repatriation

8. Victim Protection and Assistance

9. Prevention of Trafficking in Persons

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

The 123 tools contained in the Toolkit offer guidance in the form of legislative explanation, principles, guidelines, recommendations, directives, checklists, forms, and expert discussion of issues. Recommended resources include training materials, websites, legislative guides, online conventions, analysis and published reports produced by anti-trafficking IGO, NGO and government partners around the world. Non-exhaustive Promising Practices of anti-trafficking interventions from around the world are offered as both a celebration of efforts undertaken in differing contexts with varying resource capacities, and as an inspiration for further innovative initiatives.

Visit the Online Toolkit to Combat Trafficking in Persons

For more publications, visit our publications page

people smuggling human smuggling

http://www.unodc.org/eastasiaandpacific/en/2011/04/human-trafficking-press-conference/story.html