Statement by the UN Resident Coordinator at the Commemoration of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

Your Royal Highnesses,

Chiefs,

Your Excellency, the Right Honorable Prime Minister

Cabinet Ministers,

Regional Administrator,

Members of both Houses of Parliament,

Acting National Commissioner of the Royal Eswatini Police Service,

Excellencies Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

UNODC Regional Representative,

Heads of UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes in Eswatini,

Senior Government officials,

Members of faith-based organisations

Non-Governmental Organisations,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with pleasure that the United Nations joins you today to commemorate the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, as well as for the launch of the Kingdom of Eswatini 2019-2023 National Strategic Framework and Action Plan to Combat People Trafficking.

This year’s World Day against Trafficking in Persons, with the theme, “Human Trafficking: Call your Government to action”, highlights the urgent need to step up responses to the trafficking of children and young people across the world. It seeks to inform people of the actions prioritized by Governments that have signed the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children enacted in New York on 15 November 2000 and signed by Eswatini on 08 January 2001.

Human trafficking is a global problem, a worldwide plague, affliction, and threat: no country is immune against it. Millions of victims – men and women alike, boys and girls alike - fall into the hands of traffickers, lured by fake promises and deceit, often facilitated by  the proliferation of social media and Internet. Human traffickers are misusing Internet and new technologies to broaden their reach, using apps and chat platforms to exploit and abuse young people who, as we know, represent some of our most connected online citizens around the world.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), about 72% of detected victims are women and girls, and the number of child victims has more than doubled from 2004 to 2016. Most detected victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labor, and other forms of exploitation and abuse.

Armed conflict, displacement, climate change, natural disasters and poverty are some of the factors that exacerbate the vulnerabilities and desperation that enable trafficking to flourish. Every day, young people, women and men risk their lives in the Mediterranean Sea in an attempt to seek greener pastures, a better life, greater opportunities in Europe and elsewhere. A majority either drown in the sea, are detained in transit camps or exploited at the hands of traffickers.

According to UNDOC reports, it has been observed that Eswatini also has its share of Swazi victims being trafficked primarily for labor exploitation in neighboring countries (mostly in South Africa and to a lesser extent in Mozambique).  Unfortunately, Eswatini has also been found to be a destination country for nationals of the SADC region and Asia being trafficked for sexual and labor exploitation.

Emerging forms of exploitation detected include trafficking for purposes of being used in the drug trade (drug mules); and the abduction of babies from hospitals or their families for the purpose of accessing government child grants. 

Effective anti-trafficking responses require coordination and cooperation. UNODC assists governments in implementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children.

We, the United Nations, therefore applaud the launch of the Kingdom of Eswatini National Strategic Framework and Action Plan to combat People Trafficking (NSFAP) for 2019- 2023, which will operationalize the implementation of the People Trafficking and People Smuggling (Prohibition) Act No. 7 enacted by Eswatini in 2009.

The Action Plan will provide a roadmap for the implementation of all anti-trafficking responses, as well as enhance multi-sectoral coordination and planning, including monitoring and reporting.

The Action Plan is the guiding tool for strengthening the overall performance of stakeholders and will provide a foundation for current and future actions by detailing ‘who is responsible for what’.

Among many other efforts alongside the UN Development System in Eswatini, UNODC has supported the review and the development of the Strategic Framework and Action Plan launched today through the provision of technical support to the Secretariat of the Prevention of People Trafficking and People Smuggling. We are grateful for and proud of UNODC’s assistance and know that Eswatini – Government, civil society and other partners - can count on its continued support in this major endeavor.

The United Nations remains committed to supporting the Government in a range of other strategic areas, as guided by the needs of the country and Agenda 2030 Agenda. We remain committed to preventing and suppressing Trafficking in Persons, assisting Eswatini in bringing traffickers to justice and providing adequate support to the victims.

In their proposed Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration adopted in December 2018 under the auspices of the United Nations, Members States have demonstrated their resolve to prevent, combat and eradicate trafficking in persons in the context of international migration.

On this commemoration of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, let us come together to build a future in Eswatini and on the continent where this heinous crime no longer exists. The call to action is primarily addressed to Governments; however, we do encourage every individual, every group, every organization to take action to prevent and combat Trafficking in persons and support the victims.

I thank you.