On July 4th, 2023, from 9 to 10 a. m., a side-event to the 53rd Session of the United Nation Human Right Council took place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The event was organized by the Sovereign Order of Malta in collaboration with Caritas Internationalis and Caritas France and the title was “Non-punishment of Victims of Human Trafficking: Enhancing Protection of Victims”.
Several Permanent Missions to the United Nations co-sponsored the event: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Poland, Romania, Sovereign Order of Malta, United Kingdom.
As we know Human trafficking is a grave violation of human rights, affecting more then 50 million of individuals worldwide. Victims of human trafficking often face multiple forms of abuse, exploitation, and trauma. It is crucial to establish a comprehensive framework that not only supports victims but also prevents their punishment or criminalization for the crimes they were forced to commit. Twenty-three years after the Palermo Protocol (United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women, and Children), the scourge of human trafficking is far from being defeated.
This event hosted several professionals who discussed the topic from different aspects:
- Michel Veuthey (Moderator), Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to monitor and combat trafficking in persons
- Geneviève Colas, Secours Catholique – Caritas France and COATNET
- Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict
- Patrick Eba, Deputy Director for Protection, UNHCR
- Charlie Lamento, N. Permanent Representative for Global Hope Network International (GILLP)
- Olivia Smith, Executive Director of the Caribbean Anti Human Trafficking Foundation
- Andrea Salvoni, Acting Coordinator for Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings, OSCE
- Ena Lucia Mariaca Pachecoand Silvia De Rosa, Interpol
The video statement of Virginia Gamba is available on Youtube and Vimeo, as is that of Olivia Smith.
