Official mission to Italy by the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons

GENEVA (10 September 2013) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, will visit Italy from 12 to 20 September 2013 to examine the situation of trafficked individuals and assess the impact of anti-trafficking measures in the country.

“During my mission, I wish to reach out to a wide range of stakeholders and trafficked persons themselves, so that their voices are heard and can be considered in the Government’s responses to combatting human trafficking,” said the independent expert designated by the UN Human Rights Council to promote the prevention of trafficking in persons in all its forms and to encourage measures to uphold and protect the human rights of victims.

“I hope to identify good practices as well as remaining obstacles in fighting and preventing human trafficking in Italy”, Ms. Ezeilo said. “Particular attention will be given to measures taken to protect victims of trafficking and provide them with access to effective remedies.”

The Special Rapporteur’s visit to Italy will take her to Rome, Venice, Turin and the area of Naples where she will meet relevant national and local government officials, specialized national institutions involved in the fight against trafficking in persons, as well as representatives of UN agencies, other international organizations, civil society, and victims of trafficking or their representatives.

Ms. Ezeilo, who visits the country at the invitation of the Government, will present her findings and recommendations in a comprehensive report to the Human Rights Council in 2014.

The independent human rights expert will share her preliminary observations and recommendations at a press conference in Rome on 20 September 2013, at the Italian Society for International Organization (SIOI) in Piazza S. Marco 51, at 12h30.

ENDS

Joy Ngozi Ezeilo (Nigeria) started her mandate as Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children in August 2008. She is independent from any government and serves in her individual capacity. Ms. Ezeilo is a human rights lawyer and professor at the University of Nigeria. She has served in various governmental capacities and consulted for various international organizations. She has published extensively on a variety of topics, including human rights, women’s rights, and Sharia law. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Trafficking/Pages/TraffickingIndex.aspx

UN Human Rights – Italy: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/ENACARegion/Pages/ITIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact
Before and after the visit: Yaye Ba (+41 22 917 92 10/yba@ohchr.org)
During the visit: Yaye Ba (+41 79 444 4355) and Selma Vadala (+41079444908 / svadala@ohchr.org) or write to srtrafficking@ohchr.org

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)

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