ICAT makes inroads as global efforts to counter trafficking in persons gather momentum

The Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT), the UN lead mechanism coordinating the response to trafficking in persons has published an online resource to map its members’ efforts against this heinous crime.

The mapping resource profiles ICAT individual entities, their mandates and expertise, past and ongoing initiatives, and multi-stakeholder partnerships in place to prevent and combat trafficking in persons.

“In 2021, the nearly 30 entities making up the ICAT membership operate almost in every corner of the world, providing their diverse expertise on a wide range of anti-trafficking interventions,” says John Brandolino, Director of Treaty Affairs at UNODC, co-chair of ICAT in 2021.

The entities’ interventions are mainly concentrated in Europe and Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with Europe, Central Asia and Africa representing almost half of the reported focus of engagement.

This wide coverage of ICAT shows the commitment of its members to address trafficking in persons, and its various forms, across the globe.

Regarding the forms of exploitation, the mapping resource highlights that ICAT entities are mostly focusing on addressing trafficking for the purposes of sexual and labor exploitation, as well as child trafficking.

When it comes to anti-trafficking responses, it emerges that the primary areas of intervention for the majority of ICAT entities are technical assistance, normative and policy work, and knowledge development at global, regional and national levels, with capacity building certainly being one major area of focus for most members.

Through skills enhancement targeted mainly at law enforcement actors, policymakers and civil society to improve the identification of victims, their protection and assistance, as well as investigations and prosecutions of trafficking in persons cases, ICAT entities are capable of offering significant and comprehensive support to States towards their efforts to counter trafficking in persons.

Anchored on the priority areas identified in the joint Analytical Review of anti-trafficking efforts in the past two decades released in December 2020, the mapping resource presents a picture of past and ongoing initiatives with a view to providing an entry point for future cooperation between States and ICAT entities in their efforts against trafficking in persons.

“The report is a further testimony to the need to strengthen collaborative and well-coordinated actions in support of the efforts implemented by States and other partners to counter trafficking in persons”, says Grainne O’Hara, Director of the Division of International Protection at UNHCR.

The resource also provides a comprehensive list of resources by individual ICAT entities on trafficking in persons and related matters, including technical tools, research papers, guidelines and other policy documents, readily available for a wide range of users.

“We hope this comprehensive mapping of ICAT entities´ mandates, expertise and work can be a useful repository of information for States to consult when seeking support in the development of holistic anti-trafficking responses,” adds John Brandolino.

The realization of this mapping exercise was made possible through the contribution of the Government of the United Kingdom, who has been a committed actor in the global fight against trafficking in persons and long-standing supporter of the work of ICAT.

“The UK is proud to have been the primary donor to the ICAT Secretariat since May 2018. We welcome this Strategic Mapping Exercise as a valuable tool that can be used by UN Member States, international and regional organizations and civil society,” says Corinne Kitsell, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations in Vienna.

“The report will enable partners to draw on shared expertise to develop activities in the field and at home to help combat modern slavery and help survivors to rebuild their lives” adds Ambassador Kitsell.

ICAT, also through this mapping resource, strives to continue serving as a central, accessible source of relevant, reliable and easily digestible information on trafficking in persons for stronger anti-trafficking outcomes.

About ICAT:

ICAT was established in 2007, pursuant to UN General Assembly resolution 61/180, as a policy forum to enhance cooperation and coordination among UN agencies and other relevant international organizations to facilitate a holistic and comprehensive approach to the scourge of trafficking in persons. Its members include 29 UN entities and other international and regional organizations.

ICAT has published extensively on trafficking in persons, and its wealth of information can be accessed on the website here.

For more information, follow @ICAT_News on Twitter.