UN DAY: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

The United Nations has designated 2021 as the International Year of Peace and Trust.

In the context of the need for raising awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights, the United Nations General Assembly decided on 18 December 2013 to designate July 30 as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons.

Every year the US Department of State releases a Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP), which ranks countries from Tier 1 (most compliant in meeting minimum standards for eliminating trafficking) to Tier 3 (failure to comply with minimum standards for eliminating trafficking). This annual report is a tool that can be used to encourage countries to acknowledge trafficking within their borders and take action to eradicate it.

Some statistics of interest:

• People are trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labor, forced begging, forced marriage; for selling children and as child soldiers, as well as for removal of organs;
• Women make up 49% and girls 23% of all victims of trafficking;
• Sexual exploitation is the most common form of exploitation (59% share) followed by forced labor (34% share);
• Most victims are trafficked within their countries’ borders – those trafficked abroad are moved to the richest countries.