In Focus – Preventing children on the move from falling victim to human trafficking

National mechanisms are critical to prevent children on the move from falling victim to the heinous crime of human trafficking.

“Keeping children safe from harm is – and must be – everybody’s business,” said Ms. Ghada Waly, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) during a recent event organized on 24 May 2023 in the margins of the meeting of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

Speakers underscored the role of national systems to reduce the vulnerability of children on the move from the risk of trafficking and providing support to meet the children’s needs, spotlighting the Greek National Emergency Response Mechanism as a best practice that prioritizes preventive measures and early intervention to safeguard at-risk children.

Robust safeguards to protect children on the move from becoming victims of human trafficking were emphasized, with participants highlighting that these safeguards are non-negotiable whenever the well-being of children is at stake.

“We cannot turn a blind eye to the plight of these vulnerable children who have been forced to leave their homes in search of safety and a better future,” said Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, raising concern that more children are pushed back at border or detained for their own or their parents' migration status.

Collaboration and coordination among agencies and stakeholders also emerged as another crucial theme, with partnership being vital to tackling the multifaceted challenges associated with child trafficking and providing holistic support for children on the move.

The event also underscored the intrinsic value and rights of all children, regardless of their migration status.

“Like every child, trafficked children are precious, and they deserve to be protected and treated with dignity,” said Ms. Waly.

Access to humanitarian aid, education, and assistance for vulnerable children, including those classified as irregular migrants, were identified as important to preventing the risk of trafficking that children on the move often encounter. For such support to be provided, inter-agency cooperation is crucial.

“We must work together to provide integrated and strong national cross-sectoral protection systems,” Dr. Maalla M’jid said, further calling for investing in rights-based protection systems that include displaced children, rather than excluding them or creating separate services for them.

The event also witnessed the launch of a joint advocacy campaign to highlight the needs of children on the move, especially in times of crises. The joint advocacy campaign is an initiative of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children (OSRSG-VAC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UNODC, and in close partnership with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

The campaign features three videos highlighting the Problem, Solutions and Conclusion of protecting the rights of children on the move in times of crisis.

The discussion was organized by Greece with support from Switzerland, the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT), IOM and UNHCR.

Opening remarks were delivered by Mrs. Catherine Koika, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN in Vienna, and Mr. Raphael Naegeli, the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to OSCE and UN in Vienna. Panelists included, among others, Dr. Maalla M’jid and Dr. Heracles Moskoff, the Special Secretary for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors in Greece.

Mr. Ilias Chatzis, who heads the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section at UNODC, moderated the discussion.

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About ICAT

ICAT was established in 2007 by the UN General Assembly to enhance cooperation and coordination among UN agencies and other relevant international organizations to facilitate a holistic and comprehensive approach to trafficking in persons. Its members include 31 UN entities and other international organizations. In 2023, ICAT is co-chaired by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children (OSRSG VAC), and is continuously coordinated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

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

For more information, follow @ICAT_News on Twitter.

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