– As prepared –

Remarks by H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly

30 March 2021

Excellencies, dear colleagues,

I am pleased to be with you all at the first informal consultations on the modalities for the upcoming appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to combat trafficking in persons.  I thank Ambassador Imnadze of Georgia and Ambassador Manalo of Philippines for serving as co-facilitators of this process.

Trafficking in human lives is an abhorrent crime. Those who profit from it do so at the unimaginable cost of human rights and dignity, a principle of that the UN was founded to uphold.

The 2020 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) gives a detailed insight into this global crime that targets and exploits the most vulnerable. Trafficking often subjects those most in need to abuse, deception, manipulation, and often physical violence. Women and children are particularly at risk, their forcible removal threatens the very fabric of society. It is crucial we use our voices to spotlight the risks of trafficking to the most vulnerable. 

The advent of the internet has increased the opportunity for traffickers to identify and exploit victims. Social media has been used for recruitment, particularly of young people. Traffickers rely on the anonymity of the internet to hide themselves and their abuses. These additional threats must be factored into the actions being taken to combat trafficking. We must stay alive to all emerging and evolving threats.

Excellencies,

The consequences of trafficking are vast. Even if victims are found and returned home, their lives are often changed forever by the trauma of their experience. One victim of trafficking is one too many. We must focus on preventing this crime, which is so often driven by poverty, human rights violations, food insecurity and other vulnerabilities.    

And for when trafficking does occur, we must ensure we are able to identify it, dismantle the criminal enterprises involved in the trade and convict the perpetrators.  A demand for cheaper goods and services must not fuel the trade in human misery.

Excellencies, for our part, the General Assembly has played an active role in advancing holistic responses to trafficking in persons, including through the Global Plan of Action which is based upon our UN principles of solidarity and shared humanity, and our commitment to leave no one behind.

The Global Plan has supported member countries to develop better anti-trafficking legislation, protect and redress victims, promote human rights and pursue accountability for perpetrators, through global data collection and analysis of patterns of trafficking, to name a few examples.

Now, with the third appraisal of the Global Plan, we have a unique opportunity to collectively assess the current challenges and the progress made over the last four years and identify ways to strengthen partnerships including with civil society, the media and other private actors. This is the moment to agree to prioritized actions to address both emerging and enduring forms of this assault on human dignity.

The appraisal is of particular importance in view of the launch last year of the review mechanism of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its anti-trafficking Protocol, both of which move steadily towards universal ratification.

Excellencies,

It is clear that on the issue of Trafficking in Persons we have much to agree on. Now, I encourage you to turn that collective resolve into specific actions to prevent, deliver justice and seek redress for those victimized globally by this crime.  This includes through these informal consultations, which will ultimately underpin the success of the appraisal.

I wish you all the best in your deliberations and assure you of my commitment to support this process.

I thank you.