The United Nations

and It’s Role in

Combating Human

Trafficking in the

Eastern EuropeJanet Yan and Emily Lambeth

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

WHAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

Trafficking Statistics

It generates $32 billion dollars a year

2.4 million people are currently being exploited in the trafficking industry

50% of victims are children

80% of the victims are women and girls

161 countries are affected

Russian Federation

Ukraine

Belarus

Republic of Moldova

Bulgaria

Czech Republic

Hungary

Poland

Romania

Slovak Republic

Problems

Economic instability

Poverty

Porous borders – 800,000 people trafficked across borders each year

Government corruption

Lack of education (victims and non-victims)

UN Millennium Development

Goals

Current U.N. Efforts

November 15, 2000 – The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and

Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (2003)

The Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking (2008)

The Blue Heart Campaign (2008)

UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons (2010)

United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons (2010)

United Nations Organizations

UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking

Mission: to eradicate human trafficking by increasing awareness, protect and support victims, prosecute criminals, creating partnerships

Works with many different groups

Idea: no country can fix this problem alone

UN Office on Drug and Crime

Mission: to lead the world in the fight against international crime, such as human trafficking

Offers help to countries in need

Drafts national anti-trafficking strategies and provides resources to implement said strategies

Idea: Research and Raise Awareness Promote protocols Strengthen partnerships and

coordination between countries and organizations

UN Population Fund

Mission: Improve the lives of youth and women by promoting human rights and gender equality

End gender-based violence and discrimination stemming from trafficking

Idea: Human Rights Promote girls’ education Gender-equality

UN Children’s Fund

Mission: Improve the life of a child by working with others to overcome violence and suffering for the child

Works with governments to create stronger legal practices to eradicate trafficking

Idea: Protect the Victims Timely identification Providing safe houses, health care,

and therapy Train professionals to work with

victims Set standards to deal with trafficking

Non-governmental Organizations

Manna Freedom – Eastern Europe

La Strada International – Belarus, Bulgaria, Moldova

Center for Assistance to Victims of Violence and Human Trafficking – Russia

Bulgarian Network for Child and Youth Trafficking Prevention

ProposalsSource, Transit, Destination

Source

Educate people about trafficking by creating flyers, pamphlets, and billboard messages

How should the messages be delivered?

Information should be in several different languages

Educate: Citizens

Educate: Youth

Increase efforts to educate young children and teenagers in general

U.N. volunteers should visit schools to give a speech and talk to students about trafficking

Transit

Border Security

Provide initiatives for countries to guard borders and airspaces more closely

Set multiple security cameras at many different angles at the borders

Reduce Corruption

Urge countries to set requirement that all law enforcement vehicles must have dash cams

Set harsher sentences for officials found to be corrupt

Urge countries to set harsher sentences for criminals involved in trafficking; also urge them to set greater consequences for corruption

Destination

Educate: Residents

Educate residents on how to recognize and assist victims

Create billboard messages and commercials

Multiple languages

Assist Victims

Have volunteers to help identify victims

Have victims seen as victims and not criminals

Put up flyers with shelter addresses and telephone numbers

U.N. should collaborate with local organizations and NGOs - make shelters, recruit volunteers, run a victim hotline

Shelter resources?

Supplement Solutions

Organize conference in Eastern Europe

Create a system similar to the “Tier” system used by the U.S. Department of State; set consequences for countries that do not make substantial efforts to fix trafficking issues in their countries

WHAT CAN WE DO?

“When the history of this horror calls, we cannot let this period be remembered as one in which the global community knew but did not act.” – Ali Treki, Former President of the UN General Assembly

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Bibliography

Picture Credits

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Thank you!