UN Rapporteur Calls For Focus On Trafficking Victims

Joy Ezeilo at Egyptian Trafficking Conference which was held on April 21, 2010 (Source: Agence France-Presse)

24 November 2010  

Scoop Independent News (New York) – Joy Ezeilo, UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking of Persons, called on nations to focus on providing aid to human trafficking victims (especially women and children). Ms. Ezeilo called on origin, transit, and destination states to provide easy and ample access of legal, financial, and residency aid, as well as information and authorities, to victims. Ms. Ezeilo maintains states must meet human rights standards when providing these types of aid. Many governments created a basis for Ms. Ezeilo’s call for victim focus which will be stated in Ms. Ezeilo’s June 2011 report to the UN Human Rights Council.

Source:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1011/S00561/un-urges-governments-to-focus-on-victims-of-trafficking.htm

(Reliability: 9/10)

UN Co-Hosts West Africa Migrant/Refugee Trafficking Workshops

Map of West Africa (Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)

19 November 2010

Reliefweb.com (United Nations) - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, along with the International Organization for Migration, have organized workshops in West Africa to exchange information on progress on migrant/refugee programs. The workshops focus on inter-agency referral of migrants, asylum requests, and the effects of human trafficking on victims. The ultimate goal of the workshops is to expand and create unity of knowledge and tactics throughout the region to protect the influx of refugees and migrants. The workshops will be held in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo from November 22^nd to December 9^th.    

Source:

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/JALR-8BCDRL?OpenDocument

(Reliability: 7/10)

UN Committee Condemns North Korean Trafficking Policy

North Korea's Deputy UN Ambassador, Pak Tok Hun, at the UN during the May 2009 North Korea Missile Crisis (Source: Washington Times)

18 November 2010 

Voice of America (United Nations) – The UN General Assembly’s Third Committee adopted a resolution which condemns North Korea’s human rights policies. Aside from human rights abuses, North Korea was called upon by the committee to end female trafficking and to begin cooperation with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights. North Korea’s Deputy UN Ambassador, Pak Tok Hun, rejected the call for reform as a US political conspiracy against North Korea’s sovereignty. The North Korean resolution passed the committee with 103 votes in favor, 18 against, and 60 abstaining.

Source:

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/UN-General-Assembly-Committee-Condemns-Human-Rights-Abuses-in-N-Korea--109051814.html

(Reliability: 7/10)

UNODC Director Gives Update On Victim Fund

18 November 2010

Scoop Independent News (New York) – UN Office on Drugs and Crime Executive Director, Yuri Fedotov, gave an update on the financial and administrative status of the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking. Director Fedotov gave details about the Secretary General selected advising board of trustees, mainly members (Aleya Hammad-Egypt, Saisuree Chutikul-Thailand, Nick Kinsella-UK, Virginia Murillo Herrera-Costa Rica and Klara Skrivankova-Czech Republic)  and tenure (3 years). Belarus, Egypt, Malaysia, Luxembourg, Qatar ,Thailand, and the Executive Chairman  of Orascom Telecom, Naguib Sawiris, have pledged financial support. Director Fedotov called for continued financial support from other nations and companies.

Source:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1011/S00382/un-fund-for-victims-of-human-trafficking-grows.htm

(Reliability: 8/10)

UN Calls For Protection Of Latin American Migrant Children

(Source: CIA World Fact Book)

08 November 2010

UN News Centre (United Nations) – In a new study, UNICEF and the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean called on Latin American nations to adopt policies designed to protect vulnerable migrant children from child traffickers. The agencies found that children are vulnerable when traveling with parents or when left with relatives while parents migrate. Since many Latin child migrants are illegal aliens, their rights to legal and social aid become limited. The agencies called on nations to avoid detention of child migrants and ensuring child rights to aid through new legislation.

Source:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=36692&Cr=migration&Cr1=

(Reliability: 6/10)

UN Formally Launches Trust Fund For Trafficking Victims

Aston Kutcher (left) and Demi Moore are two the celebrities in attendance for the launch of the UN Victim Trust Fund (Source: UNGIFT)

03 November 2010

Emirates News Agency (New York) – On November 4^th, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will formally launch the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons. The fund gives humanitarian, legal, and financial aid to global victims, especially women and children, of human trafficking. The launch will be attended by trafficking victims, the UN Secretary General, UN General Assembly President, UNODC Executive Director, celebrity humanitarians, civil society leaders, academics, international law enforcement officials, and private sector donors in order to bring attention and donations to the fund and human trafficking. The fund is part of the July 30^th UN General Assembly Global Plan of Action Combat Trafficking in Persons and will be managed by the UNODC with advice from a Secretary General appointed Board of Trustees.

Source:

http://www.wam.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=WamLocEnews&cid=1285739403322&pagename=WAM%2FWAM_E_Layout&parent=Query&parentid=1135099399852

(Reliability: 9/10)

UN Praises, Calls For Reform On US Anti-Trafficking Efforts

Najat M'jid Maalla (far right) at September 14, 2009 Vienna meeting on the prevention of human trafficking (Source: OSCE)

29 October 2010 

Scoop Independent News (New York) – Najat M’jid Maalla, UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, praised US efforts in disrupting child trafficking networks and increasing trafficker prosecution but called on reform for victim protection. Maalla maintains the US does not offer alternatives to victims and must resort to prosecuting victims for crimes such as prostitution. Maalla believes US trafficking must be addressed with cultural/community perception strategies, deterring victim demand and coordinating/standardizing studies of trafficking to see its US scope. Maalla calls on communication, media, and transportation companies to join official efforts to curb US import-export of victims. Maalla supports the US National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction while also calling for implementation monitoring.

Source:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1010/S00439/un-calls-for-better-protection-against-trafficking.htm

(Reliability: 7/10)