New York: Europe and the Arabs
On the occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the UN Secretary-General called for working together to support victims, hold perpetrators accountable, and build a world where no one is bought, sold, or exploited.
In a message on the occasion, António Guterres said that human trafficking is a heinous crime and a flagrant violation of human rights. “It is one of the fastest-growing forms of organized crime, run by ruthless networks that exploit vulnerability and profit from pain. It is a brutal and highly organized activity based on deception, coercion, and exploitation. And it is evolving rapidly.”
Guterres explained that criminal groups are operating across borders with alarming speed and sophistication. These groups exploit legal loopholes, infiltrate legitimate industries and supply chains, exploit migration flows, and use technology to recruit, control, and abuse—including through online sexual exploitation or coercing victims into online scams. He said that we must unite and urgently confront this trafficking, noting that we can do so by breaking the business model on which human trafficking depends for its survival, in conjunction with ending impunity, stopping illicit profits, and strengthening law enforcement and justice systems. Perpetrators must be held accountable.
Coalitions to Protect the Vulnerable
The Secretary-General also emphasized the need to build strong alliances—with civil society and the private sector, including technology companies—to raise awareness and strengthen reporting channels to prevent exploitation and protect the vulnerable.
He also emphasized the importance of striving to ensure justice for survivors, support displaced people, and address the root causes of this trafficking—from poverty and inequality to conflict and climate change.
Legal Protection for Victims of Forced Crime
The International Organization for Migration called for urgent and coordinated action to address one of the most overlooked forms of human trafficking: forced crime. According to the organization, organized criminal groups coerce vulnerable individuals, including migrants, children, and youth, into committing crimes through manipulation, threats, and violence.
From cyber fraud and online scams to drug trafficking and theft, these acts are not premeditated, but rather the product of deception and exploitation. Victims are often recruited with false promises of employment and forced to engage in criminal activities in conditions that amount to modern-day slavery.
“Trafficking in persons is a human rights crisis. But it is more than that. It is a massive global business that fuels corruption, spreads fear, and preys on the most vulnerable. We will not make progress against trafficking in persons unless we start protecting, rather than punishing, those who are exploited,” said Amy Pope, Director of the International Organization for Migration.