On 26th February, the Ambassador was invited to deliver a statement on Human Trafficking in Africa in a side event organized by “R\u00e9seau Unit\u00e9 pour le D\u00e9veloppement en Mauritanie” on the margins of the 61st session of the Human Rights Council.<\/p>\n
Here is the full statement delivered by the Ambassador:<\/p>\n
Excellencies<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Sovereign Order of Malta would like to\u00a0thank\u00a0the \u201cR\u00e9seau\u00a0Unit\u00e9\u00a0pour le D\u00e9veloppement de\u00a0Mauritanie\u201d as well the co-organizers for the invitation to this side-event.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The protection of refugees\u2019 rights in Africa is a critical issue,<\/span><\/b>\u00a0as it also helps safeguard them from human trafficking. Africa is a continent where a\u00a0<\/span>high number of human trafficking victims<\/span><\/b>\u00a0are\u00a0identified\u00a0each year,\u00a0millions, according to available data. However, these figures are widely believed to\u00a0<\/span>underestimate the true scale of the problem<\/span><\/b>\u00a0due to the significant challenges in detecting and reporting such cases.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This phenomenon stems from\u00a0various factors, including socio-economic conditions such as poverty, inequality, and the lack of legal frameworks and enforcement, with significant disparities among African countries. Forms of trafficking are diverse, ranging from forced labor,\u00a0particularly in domestic work, agriculture, and mining,\u00a0to sexual exploitation and prostitution, as well as military recruitment, notably\u00a0of\u00a0child soldiers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Beyond being a continent where human trafficking occurs,\u00a0<\/span>Africa is also a major region of origin for victims trafficked to Western Europe and the Middle East<\/span><\/b>. Trafficking must be understood as a transnational\u00a0iissue, meaning that trafficking in Africa also directly concerns Europe and other regions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Human trafficking is a serious crime, classified as both a war crime and a crime against humanity.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Refugees are highly vulnerable to trafficking. Fleeing their lives with nothing, they often end up in camps, where traffickers exploit their vulnerabilities. As reported by the UNHCR, women in these camps are sometimes sexually exploited in exchange for food. Children living in refugee camps are also recruited for forced labor or by armed groups to serve as child soldiers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The high number of displaced people in Africa,\u00a040 million in 2023,\u00a0continues to rise due to the intensity of ongoing conflicts and the impacts of climate change.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These adverse conditions not only increase the number of refugees within Africa but also the number of African refugees reaching Europe. As previously highlighted, the issue of displaced persons and trafficking is transregional.\u00a0<\/span>UNODC has reported a correlation between the rise in displaced populations and the increasing number of African trafficking victims<\/span><\/b>\u00a0detected in Europe.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is therefore crucial that all stakeholders fulfill their obligations to protect displaced\u00a0persons\u00a0and refugees.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Religious organizations can play a pivotal role.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0They are deeply embedded in communities, often\u00a0operate\u00a0in remote areas, and are recognized as moral authorities. As such, they can contribute significantly to prevention, identification, and protection efforts for trafficking victims.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Sovereign Order of Malta<\/span><\/b>, through its humanitarian and diplomatic activities, is committed to protecting refugees and displaced persons. Our national associations and relief agency, Malteser International, provide humanitarian aid to refugees and displaced populations in conflict zones such as South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of\u00a0the Congo, among others.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the diplomatic level,\u00a0the Order of Malta\u00a0has undertaken multiple initiatives<\/span><\/b>\u00a0to raise awareness about human trafficking.\u00a0<\/span>Last December, we co-organized a high-level conference in Rome with\u00a0Praeveni\u00a0Global and the Pontifical Gregorian University<\/span><\/b>. The event brought together government representatives, international organizations, law enforcement, faith-based organizations (FBOs), NGOs, UN Special Rapporteurs, academics, and businesses to discuss the challenges of trafficking. The UNHCR representative emphasized how forced displacement, family separation, and limited legal migration pathways create environments where trafficking thrives, particularly along migration routes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n