New UN Resolution recognises vulnerability of migrant women in cases of trafficking
On Friday, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a joint Resolution on Improving the Coordination Efforts against Trafficking in Human Beings. The Resolution, co-sponsored by 80 Member States (including Ireland) explicitly acknowledges trafficking in persons disproportionately affects migrant women and girls, who are particularly vulnerable to trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
Nusha Yonkova, Gender and Anti-trafficking Expert, Immigrant Council of Ireland, said, “Trafficking is an atrocious crime, affronting migrant women’s rights to live equal and fear-free lives in Europe. This crime inflicts irreversible harm on sexually abused women and girls who are the majority of trafficked women in Europe, according to Eurostat.
“By highlighting this trend, the UN General Assembly’s resolution strengthens current EU efforts for accountability towards the victims, by ensuring the gendered nature of the crime is prioritised.”
The Immigrant Council is currently leading an EC AMIF funded ASSIST (Gender Specific Legal Assistance and Integration Support for Third Country National Female Victims of Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation) project, providing specialised gender-specific legal and integration aid to migrant women trafficked into the EU. The organisation is working with partner organisations from Germany, Italy, Scotland and Spain on the project.
Dr Yonkova, added, “The partners of ASSIST welcome today the acknowledgements at UN and EU level that sex trafficking is profit-driven and has lasting consequences for women and girls ravaged by it, which require women-centred, specialised support services.”
ENDS
Notes for editors
- The General Assembly’s Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) approved the draft resolution on Friday 15 November.
- The resolution was co-sponsored by 80 States, including Australia, Austria, Germany, Georgia, Egypt, Israel, Italy, Ireland, Canada, China, France, Poland, Lithuania, Russia, the United States.
- ASSIST partner organisations: BeFree, Italy; SOLWODI, Germany; JustRight, Scotland; SURT, Spain, and the European Network of Migrant Women.
Contact:
Pippa Woolnough, Communications and Advocacy Manager, Tel: 085 8640682