Media advisories Special Procedures

Guinea-Bissau: UN expert to assess trafficking in persons

31 October 2024

Non-official UN languages: Versão portuguesa (Word)

GENEVA – The Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Siobhán Mullally, will visit Guinea-Bissau from 4 to 14 November 2024.

Mullally will examine the main challenges to effective prevention of trafficking and protection of the human rights of victims. She will examine risks and prevalence of trafficking in persons in the context of transitions and post conflict peace building. The Rapporteur will also assess the risks of trafficking of children in the context of forced begging and child marriage, as well as the gender dimension of trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour, and effective remedies.

During her visit to Bissau, Bafata, Cambadju and Gabú, Mullally will meet with Government representatives, UN officials, law enforcement bodies, civil society organisations, human rights defenders, survivors, UN officials and development partners.

The Special Rapporteur will hold a press conference at 10:00 local time on Thursday 14 November at the Hotel Ceiba in Bissau. Access will be strictly limited to journalists.

Mullally will present her report to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2025.

Ms. Siobhán Mullally, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

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