UNODC briefs Member States on global policy developments related to human trafficking and migrant smuggling
12 June 2017 - UNODC briefed 40 Member States in Vienna last week on its support for global policy efforts in the areas of human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
Opening the meeting, John Brandolino, UNODC
Director of the Division for Treaty Affairs, spoke about the Office's involvement in several broader UN efforts.
Mr. Brandolino said: "While providing technical assistance to about 70 countries over the past year to implement relevant treaties and standards, our Vienna-based experts are also increasingly being asked to contribute normative expertise to broader international policy development."
Following his briefing, experts from the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section provided detailed updates on the following processes:
- Development of Global Compacts on Migration and Refugees: UNODC is organizing a pre-negotiation General Assembly thematic session on smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons on 4-5 September 2017.
- Security Council Debates on Trafficking in Persons: UNODC has been tasked with preparing the Secretary General's report on implementing the Council mandates prior to a new meeting in December 2017.
- Evaluating the Implementation of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons: UNODC will be involved in preparing for the General Assembly High Level meeting in New York on 27-28 September 2017.
- Promoting the Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC): The UNTOC Working Group meetings on trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants will be held, respectively, in Vienna on 6-7 September 2017 and 11-13 September 2017. The Group will discuss, among other things, developing a questionnaire for a potential new UNTOC review mechanism.
According to Mr. Brandolino, UNODC's contributions to these processes "is critical to sharing the expertise and normative work done here in Vienna in addition to the best practices and lessons learned captured by our extensive technical assistance work on the ground."
Access the presentation
here.
Further information:
UNODC's work on human trafficking and migrant smuggling
UNODC's Blue Heart Campaign
UNODC's Global Report on Trafficking in Persons