Protecting children from human trafficking

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for increased efforts to protect children from human trafficking. The message was delivered on the occasion of World Day against Trafficking in Persons on July 30.

Cybercriminal organisations pose a major threat to children. Photo: MAKERS EMPIRE

Children account for one-third of human trafficking victims.

The theme of this year’s World Day against Trafficking in Persons is “No child should be left behind in the fight against trafficking in persons”. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated: “Trafficking in persons is a terrible crime that targets the most vulnerable in our societies. We must focus on protecting the most vulnerable: children.”

Children make up one-third of all victims of human trafficking, and face horrific abuses, including forced labor, being sold as brides, being drafted into military service or forced into criminal activities, according to Mr. Antonio Guterres.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls on governments, civil society and the private sector, including technology companies, to step up efforts and work together to ensure that no child falls victim and no trafficker goes unpunished, and reaffirms our commitment to a future where every child is safe and free.

According to the United Nations, rising inequality and globalization are driving the emergence of sophisticated trafficking networks that challenge traditional legal frameworks, creating new forms of slavery; online platforms expose children to sexual abuse and gender-based violence and provide an opening for traffickers to target victims in other countries.

Threatening progress made

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has announced that it is stepping up its efforts to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, with child trafficking being a top priority. UNODC also highlighted the links between human trafficking and migrant smuggling and other organized crimes, including cybercrime, money laundering, drug and arms trafficking and corruption. The UNODC office will expand its on-the-ground presence, deploying experts to countries where support is most needed, and strengthen its commitment to sustainable development and gender equality.

The head of UNODC’s anti-trafficking and people smuggling unit, Ilias Chatzis, said that the progress made in combating human trafficking and people smuggling over the past two decades “is now under threat” due to global challenges, including conflict, large-scale migration and refugee flows, cybercrime, climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic. Financial crises, armed conflicts and forced displacements caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have overwhelmed justice systems, significantly reducing investigations, prosecutions, identification and protection of victims.

The United Nations convened a meeting on July 29 to discuss ways to finalize an international treaty to combat cybercrime. The UN Convention on Cybercrime was initiated in 2017 when Russian diplomats sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General outlining the initiative. Two years later, the UN General Assembly established an intergovernmental committee tasked with drafting a treaty on the issue, despite opposition from members the United States and the European Union. Now, during a two-week meeting, countries will discuss and approve the final draft of the convention.

MINH CHAU synthesis

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/bao-ve-tre-em-khoi-nan-mua-ban-nguoi-post751603.html