Director General/Executive Director
Excellencies,
Thank you for this timely discussion.
As conflicts and other crises continue unabated, the crime of human trafficking acquires ever more appalling dimensions.
People escaping war and persecution are targeted by criminal networks, and singled out for violence, abuse and exploitation.
Conflict and the presence of troops can drive demand for labour and sexual services, and traffickers are quick to spot a chance to profit.
Armed groups have cruelly enslaved women and girls, and recruited boys to serve as child soldiers.
The Security Council, over the past three years, has repeatedly called on countries to address these threats to international peace and security.
The Secretary-General's report on implementation of Security Council resolution 2388 on trafficking in conflict situations will be presented in November.
The Global Compact for Migration, to be adopted in December, further highlights the need to prevent, combat and eradicate human trafficking in the context of international migration.
We have the political will, and we have the tools.
The Protocol against trafficking in persons under the Organized Crime Convention has reached near-universal ratification with one hundred and seventy-three parties.
The General Assembly, just one year ago, adopted a political declaration reaffirming this framework and related targets under the Sustainable Development Goals.
We must build on this commitment to address capacity gaps, to deny traffickers the chance to exploit vulnerabilities and lack of coordination between countries.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime is supporting concerted action through the Protocol.
In cooperation with UNHCR and EUNAVFOR Med operation SOPHIA, we are training the Libyan coast guard and facilitating information exchange.
Our Office also enabled the training in Niger of defence attorneys representing eighty minors detained for being associated with, and in most cases potentially trafficked by, Boko Haram.
We are contributing to UN system responses through the Inter-Agency Coordination Group ICAT.
UNODC is also leading efforts to integrate anti-trafficking measures in conflict analysis and prevention, including through a thematic paper to be published next month.
We will be launching the latest Global Trafficking in Persons report in December, which will expand on the 2016 report to examine trafficking patterns in armed conflict and post-conflict situations.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Traffickers exploit misery and inequality.
I hope this event can encourage more countries to do more, to provide support and improve prevention, protect people and promote justice.
Thank you.