UNODC and Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is the acquisition of people by improper means such as force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them. Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. Virtually every country in the world is affected by trafficking for sexual exploitation or forced labour. The challenges for all countries, rich and poor, are to target the criminals who exploit desperate people and to protect trafficking victims. As the only U.N. entity focusing on the criminal justice element, the GPAT brings special expertise to the fight against trafficking.

The UNODC Global Programme against Trafficking in Human Beings (GPAT) assists countries in their efforts to combat this crime. The work of GPAT is underpinned by the Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and its anti-trafficking protocol.

To learn more about human trafficking, visit What is Human Trafficking?

Latest news

30 November - 3 December, UNODC holds Expert Group Meeting to Elaborate Basic Training Modules on Preventing and Combating the Smuggling of Migrants

15 November 2008, UNODC Regional Office for South Asia holds Colloquium on Justice Delivery in India

20 October 2008, UNODC released report on trafficking in Lebanon

15 October 2008, UNODC hosts event to discuss challenges in the delivery of technical assistance

9 October 2008, UNODC releases new Toolkit to combat Trafficking in Persons

For more, visit our News and Events page

For a full listing of latest tools and publications, visit our Publications page

UNODC's Response to Human Trafficking

UNODC offers practical help to States, not only helping to draft laws and create comprehensive national anti-trafficking strategies but also assisting with resources to implement them. States receive specialized assistance including the development of local capacity and expertise, as well as practical tools to encourage cross-border cooperation in investigations and prosecutions.

The adoption in 2000 by the United Nations General Assembly of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking In Persons, Especially Women and Children marked a significant milestone in international efforts to stop the trade in people. As the custodian of the Protocol, UNODC addresses human trafficking issues through its Global Programme against Trafficking in Human Beings. To date, more than 110 States have signed and ratified the Protocol. But translating it into reality remains problematic. Very few criminals are convicted and most victims are probably never identified or assisted.

For an overview of UNODC's work in the human trafficking field and the real-life complexities faced by people globally every day, please click on the following links:

Prevention of trafficking in persons

Protection of victims of human trafficking

Prosecution of trafficking offenders

Find out about UN.GIFT

In March 2007, UNODC formally launched a Global Initiative to fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) to:

• Raise awareness and foster commitment to adopt and implement policies to counter trafficking in persons;
• Increase the knowledge base about human trafficking;
  Build and strengthen greater commitment to existing and new partnerships with Governments, the international community, NGOs, the private sector, civil society organizations and the media;
• Mobilize resources to support action; and
• Implement projects to fight human trafficking on a local, regional and international level.

UN.GIFT aims to bring together all actors responding to human trafficking to make a lasting impact on this global issue. A key milestone towards this goal was the Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking held on 13 to 15 February 2008.

To learn more about this and other UN.GIFT initiatives, please visit the UN.GIFT website