Trafficking in Women and Children

A background presentation of the problems involved and the initiatives taken Foreword Increasing attention is being given to the hundreds of thousands of women and children who are now commodities traded on an international market. They are marketed, transported and sold by traffickers to be exploited in prostitution, pornography and forced labour. Trafficking in persons is a gross violation of human dignity and human rights, and a disgrace to our societies. It is slave trade and must be fought with every means at our disposal. Poverty and lack of equality make women and children more vulnerable to traffickers and buyers. Initiatives to reduce poverty and promote gender equality are therefore of direct importance in efforts to combat trafficking. Trafficking in persons is a problem that transcends national borders. No country acting in isolation can put an end to it. Trafficking must be addressed within the framework of collaborative development and migration policy. We also call for efficient judicial cooperation and law enforcement as these are necessary to fight this outrageous crime.