Combating Human Trafficking: The Role of the United Nations in Coordination with the EU
by Vera NYGARD
Combating Human Trafficking
The Role of the United Nations in Coordination with the European Union
The United Nations and European Union’s relationship of coordination and cooperation has made great strides in regard to addressing and preventing human trafficking. This relationship includes strategy and policy development, legislative assistance, training and technical cooperation in addition to regional and international cooperation with the aim of protecting victims and preventing future instances of exploitation.[1]The United Nations acts through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which focuses on the criminal justice aspect of trafficking. One of the UNODC’s main areas of activity involves strengthening the capacity of Member-States to address this issue, including the collection and dissemination of data, promoting evidence-based policies and good practice, and awareness-raising.[2]
When the UNODC was first formed in 1997, the European Union was very involved in negotiating the draft of the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime, which guides the work of the UNODC. The subsequent protocols- known as the Palermo Protocols- that were later developed to supplement the Convention further elucidated this work, requiring Member-States to adopt measures which would ensure the accountability of international traffickers, protect victims of trafficking and ease the return process to their own or another country, and make certain that the general public is aware of the existence of and what constitutes trafficking.[3] The European Union has signed these protocols and has aligned their work with the procedures outlined therein.
Most recently, the United Nations General Assembly discussed ways in which coordination efforts when combating human trafficking can be improved, which resulted in a revising of draft Resolution A/C.3/74/L.10/Rev 1. The strategies discussed included taking measures to end impunity of trafficking networks, to support family reunification for victims of trafficking, and developing a comprehensive evidence base of effective programmes and initiatives in the effort to combat trafficking.[4] This development was warmly welcomed by the EU, acknowledging how the further prioritisation of trafficking, particularly in regard to women and children, aligns with their objective to eradicate all forms of exploitation and the targets of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.[5]
[1] UNODC, ‘EU-UNODC Cooperation: Preventing and Addressing Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling’, 2019.
[2] UNODC, ‘About the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’, 2019.
[3] European Commission, ‘European Commission Pave the Way for EC Ratification of UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime and its Protocols on Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings’, 2003.
[4] United Nations General Assembly, ‘Improving the Coordination of Efforts Against Trafficking in Persons’, 2019.
[5] Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, ‘EU Welcomes Adoption of the UN Resolution on Improving the Coordination of Efforts Against Trafficking in Human Beings’, 2019.