Director General/Executive Director
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for joining us to mark World Day against Trafficking in Persons.
I very much welcome the focus of this year's theme on responding to the trafficking of children and young people.
This has become an urgent priority as humanitarian crises and armed conflict have left children and young people at risk.
These vulnerabilities are further heightened when children and young people are on the move, and often separated from their families.
Effective action against human trafficking requires coordination and cooperation.
That is why UNODC is honoured to serve as Coordinator of ICAT, the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons, which brings together twenty-three UN and other international and regional partners.
Thanks to the support of the Group of Friends and Belarus, which sponsored GA resolution 72/195, UNODC was empowered to call the first-ever principals-level meeting of ICAT in May.
At our meeting, we adopted ten decisions to scale up ICAT's capabilities and strengthen the fight against human trafficking, across the pillars of the UN's work.
UNODC is committed to taking these decisions forward.
At the same time, we remain engaged in providing comprehensive support to countries to implement the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Trafficking in Persons Protocol.
Nearly every country in the world has pledged to put the Protocol against human trafficking into action, and it represents our best and most effective means to protect children and young people by ending impunity for traffickers, and ensuring that criminal justice responses safeguard the interests of children at every stage.
Trafficked children must receive protection and assistance, taking into account their special vulnerabilities, rights and needs, irrespective of migration status or participation in criminal proceedings.
UNODC is also working with private sector and civil society partners to clamp down on cybercrime, to prevent and counter trafficking, abuse and exploitation of children through the Internet.
Modern technologies present many challenges but tech is also clearly part of the solution. We need to build cross-border cooperation and capacities to ensure that children and young people can be safe online.
Furthermore, we are helping to ensure that child victims can become survivors through the UN Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking.
Through the Blue Heart Campaign, UNODC is raising public awareness of these issues and the plight of trafficking victims, almost a third of whom are children.
The film we are presenting here today, based on true events, shows the story of two sisters in Serbia who fall victim to traffickers, helping to illustrate the terrible consequences of this crime more eloquently than words could ever express.
Art has a unique ability to build empathy and understanding, and I hope this film helps to further strengthen resolve, and advance our efforts to stop human trafficking and protect all children, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Thank you.