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Here is the text of the video message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres to the virtual ministerial event “Accelerating the level of commitment to fight human trafficking and modern slavery during the global COVID-19 crisis and beyond ”which was held today:

Pandemic and poverty, conflict and climate emergency: the cascade of crises we face exposes the most vulnerable to the risks of exploitation, violence and abuse from human traffickers.

In every region, women and girls, refugees and migrants, the oppressed and desperate are trafficked for sexual exploitation and forced into forced labor.

Women represent almost half of the victims of trafficking, while 19% are girls. In low-income countries, children account for half of the victims of this multi-billion dollar industry. It’s unimaginable.

Almost all countries are affected by trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination. All countries must therefore be part of the solution.

I thank Austria, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Qatar, the European Union and the United Kingdom for convening this meeting to strengthen international action to prevent trafficking and protect people from slavery. modern.

I urge you to promote increased assistance and cooperation, through the Political Declaration and the Global Plan of Action, and the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Trafficking Protocol. people.

Victims of trafficking must be provided with assistance and protection. They should never be punished for acts committed as a result of trafficking.

With record numbers of people on the move, governments must meet their commitments under the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

I also urge all Member States to forge new partnerships with the private sector, civil society and others, to prevent and end the widespread misuse of technology and social media to exploit vulnerable people.

Together, let us renew our efforts to end human trafficking and modern slavery as we work to build an inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you and I wish you a successful meeting.

For news media. Not an official record.