Sixty first session

Third Committee

Agenda item ...

Crime prevention and criminal justice

                            [Belarus]: draft resolution

Improving coordination of efforts against slavery and trafficking in persons

The General Assembly,

            Recalling its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and in particular the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (PP6 of the GA resolution 58/137),

Recalling also relevant paragraphs of the World Summit Outcome Document, its resolution 58/137 of 22 December 2003 and other relevant General Assembly resolutions on trafficking in persons,

Welcoming the appointment of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission of Human Rights on trafficking in persons, especially women and children (OP3 of the GA resolution 59/166),

Recognizing that trafficking in persons continues to pose a serious challenge to humanity and requires a concerted international response (OP 112 of the World Summit Outcome Document),

Noting the urgent need to devise, enforce and strengthen effective measures to combat and eliminate all forms of trafficking in persons to counter the demand for trafficked victims and to protect the victims (OP 112 of the World Summit Outcome Document),

Welcoming the efforts of Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in preventing and combating trafficking in persons and protecting victims of such trafficking,

1.  Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General to the Commission on Crime Prevention “Strengthening international cooperation in preventing and combating trafficking in persons and protecting victims of such trafficking” of
29 March 2005[1];

2.  Urges Member States to employ a comprehensive approach to combating trafficking in persons, incorporating law enforcement efforts and, where appropriate, the confiscation and seizure of the proceeds of trafficking, the protection of victims and preventive measures, including measures against activities that derive profit from the exploitation of victims of trafficking (OP1 of the GA resolution 58/137);

3.   Recognizes that broad international cooperation between Member States and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations is essential to counter effectively the threat of trafficking in persons (OP3 of the GA resolution 58/137), and invites them to engage in a global partnership against slavery and trafficking in persons with a view to eliminating all forms of trafficking in persons and protecting its victims;

4.  Urges Member States, that have not done it yet,  to take measures to ratify or accede to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography  and  to implement fully all aspects of these two instruments by, inter alia (OP4 of the GA resolution 58/137):

a) Elaborating and implementing national action plans which provide a framework for preventing and combating trafficking in persons, and protecting victims of such trafficking (OP75 of the above SG report);

b) Establishing special police unites or task forces (OP75 of the above SG report);

c) Establishing a coordination mechanism at national level among a variety of actors, including NGOs (OP75 and OP83 of the above SG report);

d) Reducing demand for victims of trafficking (OP83 of the above SG report);

e) Creating victim protection and assistance schemes, protecting human rights of victims of trafficking, including legal, physical and psychological support, temporary shelter in destination areas, support of voluntary return and assistance in reintegration (OP83 of the above SG report);  

5.  Invites the Secretary-General to harmonize and co-ordinate efforts of the United Nations and other international organisations in combating trafficking in persons and to:

a) Set up an Inter-agency Task Force on Trafficking in Persons with participation of relevant agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations, International Organisation for Migration, International Criminal Police Organisation and which will be opened for participation of Member States, international governmental and non-governmental organisations,

b) Establish a separate office in the United Nations Secretariat chaired by an Under-Secretary-General to lead the Inter-agency task force;

6. Invites also the Secretary-General with the assistance of Inter-agency task force to prepare and submit to consideration of 62nd session of the General Assembly a draft of the United Nations Strategy against trafficking in persons that will provide for co-ordinated activities of Member States, organizations, funds and programmes of the United Nations, International Organisation for Migration, and other international organisations in preventing and combating trafficking in persons and protecting its victims;

7. Invites also the Secretary-General with the assistance of Inter-agency task force to:

a) Create and maintain a database with systematic collection of data and a website on different aspects of the trafficking in persons (gender, age, migration, forced labour etc.) available for Member States and NGOs);

b) Assist Member States in implementation of paragraphs 4 of this resolution, inter alia in establishing national inter-agency mechanisms, adopting or improving national strategies and legislation, awareness campaigns, creating special law enforcement units and centres of victims protection;

c) Prepare appeals for voluntary contributions to complement the regular budgetary resources used by United Nations organs and agencies for the implementation of activities aimed at combating trafficking in persons;

d) Prepare annual comprehensive multidimensional reports on trafficking in persons;