Informal interactive multi-stakeholder hearing as part of the preparatory process for the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons

The President of the General Assembly will hold an Informal interactive multi-stakeholder hearing as part of the preparatory process for the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons pursuant to General Assembly resolution 79/286 entitled “Modalities, format and organization of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons” on Monday, 30 June 2025, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Trusteeship Council Chamber, United Nations Headquarters.

Background

The UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its supplementing Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children were significant steps to recognize and combat the crime of trafficking in persons, and the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons – with its focus on preventing trafficking, prosecuting offenders, and protecting victims – has remained pivotal in implementing these instruments.

The fourth high-level meeting on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons to be held on 24 and 25 November 2025, will review commitments and outcomes of the previous three Meetings held in 2013, 2017, and 2021, in which Member States reaffirmed their commitment to end trafficking in persons.

In the previous appraisal meetings, Member States emphasized the need to improve capacities to prevent and respond to trafficking in persons, and to address the root causes that facilitate the crime in the first place.

However, despite significant progress made through the commitments towards implementation of the Global Plan of Action, specific forms of exploitation endure. Children represent a third of detected victims of trafficking, a worrisome situation that has been stressed repeatedly. In addition, convictions for trafficking for forced labour are too scarce compared to the magnitude of this crime.1 Moreover, most traffickers operate within organized crime groups.

Objectives

The multi-stakeholder hearing will provide relevant stakeholders with an opportunity to contribute to the process leading to the high-level meeting on the appraisal of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, during a half-day of interactive panel discussion that will be attended by representatives of Member States, all observers of the General Assembly, national human rights institutions compliant with the Paris Principles, non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, invited civil society organizations, academic institutions and the private sector.

The multi-stakeholder hearing is intended to inform Member States of the practical experience shared by civil society and other stakeholders directly working on issues relating to trafficking in persons, as Member States engage in the intergovernmental negotiations on the Political Declaration – the outcome document of the high-level meeting. In particular, the hearing will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to address and make recommendations concerning action and policy, emerging from the enduring and emerging issues experienced by those directly impacted by trafficking in persons.

Format and Outcome

The multi-stakeholder hearing will consist of an opening segment, interactive panel discussion and a closing segment. The theme of the panel discussion will be: The Global Plan of Action – enduring trafficking issues and gaps, and emerging issues.

There will be no pre-established list of speakers for the interactive panel discussion. Participants are invited to indicate their interest to intervene by pressing the microphone button. To allow a maximum number of participants, the time limit for all interventions will be three minutes and will be strictly enforced by means of automatic microphone cut-off.

The United Nations Webcast services will provide live streaming coverage of the meeting as well as on-demand coverage (recorded video) in all six UN official languages plus floor language, through the UN Web TV website at: http://webtv.un.org

The following questions are intended to guide discussions during the Multi-stakeholder Hearing.
1. How can we improve coordination between Member States, international and regional organizations, civil society, academia and the private sector in preventing and combating trafficking in persons?
2. In a world in which trafficking in persons increasingly happens online or through the misuse of new technologies, how to leverage information and communications technologies and artificial intelligence to best fight online child trafficking as well as other forms of online exploitation?
3.Which positive models and best practices have been identified to fight trafficking in persons for forced labour and how to replicate them?
4.How can the fourth appraisal of the Global Plan of Action address the enduring challenges, and the emerging issues related to trafficking in persons, and what in particular should be prioritized in the 2025 Political Declaration?
5. How can the fourth appraisal of the Global Plan of Action assist with taking stock of progress made by States in combating trafficking in persons since the last appraisal in 2021? What elements or practicable actions are still required to implement the Global Plan of Action?
6. How can the 2025 Political Declaration reflect, influence and support consistent and coherent actions by all stakeholders in preventing and combating trafficking in persons?

OUTCOME
The President of the General Assembly will prepare a summary of the hearing.

Programme outline

10:00 a.m. – 10:25 a.m. Opening segment of the informal Interactive Multi-stakeholder Hearing
10:25 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. Panel Discussion: The Global Plan of Action – enduring trafficking issues and gaps, and emerging issues
12:50 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Closing segment

Accessibility Arrangements

Delegations are requested to inform the Secretariat of the accessibility requirements of their delegates to facilitate participation in meetings. Upon request, adjustments can be made to three seating arrangements with a view to enabling the participation of persons with disabilities. For individual requests, please contact the Meetings Support Section of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (email: accessibilitycentre@un.org; phone: 212 963 7348/9) no later than three working days prior to the meeting.

Programme