Trafficking and Slavery News
“For millions of people around the world, the fight against human trafficking is a matter of life and death,” she told the debate. “To reunite families that have been torn apart, to restore childhood to kids who have been robbed of their youth, to bring back dignity to all those violated by these abuses – we must act now.” -Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro called on all countries to ratify the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, June 3, 2008.
The US Department of State released the 2008 Trafficking in Persons Report on June 4, 2008. According to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, “The 2008 report covers more countries than ever– 170 total” and for the first time ever examines global prosecution data to unveil new findings regarding the sentencing of perpetrators, see her full comments. For further information visit the U.S Department of State’s Office to Monitor & Combat Human Trafficking.
The UN General Assembly took on human trafficking Tuesday, debating what should be done to best tackle the scourge that is exploiting an estimated 2.5 million people, mostly women and children, around the world. Read the UN News Centre’s release.
Burkina Faso steps up penalties for child as they have enacted new legislation to increase penalties for those found involved in child trafficking. But observers worry that a lack of resources to combat the trade means the battle is far from over.
In Burundi the Forces nationales de libération (FNL) rebels ’still recruiting children’, despite steps to end the conflict. The FNL is the countries only active rebel group remaining, however they continue to hold strong and have increased their recruitment efforts. On 6 May, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, called for the immediate release of all children in the hands of the FNL. Welcoming the release of 232 child soldiers after months of negotiations involving the government, civil society, UN agencies and a faction of the FNL, she said: ‘Grave concern remains for the approximately 500 children associated with the FNL of Agathon Rwasa.’