World Day against
Trafficking in Persons 30 July
"Every country
must join together to overcome this transnational threat by supporting and
protecting victims while pursuing and prosecuting the criminals. On the World
Day Against Trafficking in Persons, let us resolve to act as one in the name of
justice and dignity for all."
Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon
At any given time, an estimated 2.5 million people are
trapped in modern-day slavery. Men, women and children fall into the hands of
traffickers both in their own countries and abroad. Every country in the world
is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit or
destination for victims. Slavery, in both its ancient and modern forms, is not
only shameful, it is as the abolitionist John Wesley said “the execrable sum of
all villanies,” and has no place in our world.
In 2010, the General Assembly adopted the Global Plan of
Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, urging Governments worldwide to take
coordinated and consistent measures to defeat this scourge. The Plan calls for
integrating the fight against human trafficking into the UN’s broader
programmes in order to boost development and strengthen security worldwide. One
of the crucial provisions in the Plan is the establishment of a UN Voluntary
Trust Fund for victims of trafficking, especially women and children.
In 2013, the General Assembly held a high-level meeting to
appraise the Global Plan of Action. Member States also adopted resolution A/RES/68/192
and designated July 30 as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons. This
resolution declared that such a day was necessary to “raise awareness of the
situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection
of their rights.”
