Trafficking in Persons is one of the most egregious violations of human rights the International Community faces.
It affects mostly women and children, involving a wide variety of schemes that perpetrators commit with the aim of private profit.
Crimes exploiting the vulnerability of the victim into prostitution or sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or similar, servitude or ultimately the removal of organs, are among the shocking offences traffickers compel their victims into.
Our organization is worried by COVID-19’s impact on the global economic status that left family incomes at serious risk, is likely to increase trafficking of women and girls.
Our members should continue to develop campaigns and projects disseminating important information against trafficking, to support the most vulnerable.
By the 20th anniversary of the implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children (Palermo Protocol), SIE calls upon Governments to look more inward, by implementing domestic legal responses and comprehensive strategies, such as the training of professionals.
Victims shall never be detained, but rather receive appropriate care.
Traffickers should be liable, prosecuted and exemplary sanctioned for their crimes.
We quote former Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
“The signing of the Convention in Palermo in December 2000 was a watershed event in the reinforcement of our fight against organized crime. “
By Rita Nogueira Ramos, SIE 1st Vice President
To read more about SIE projects against trafficking in persons, click on the links below: