Trafficking for all purposes of exploitation undermines the women peace and security agenda: UN expert

NEW YORK (17 October 2024) – Limited progress has been made to integrate measures to combat trafficking in persons into the Women and Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, nearly 25 years after the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1325, a UN expert said today.

“Gender shapes the experience of conflict, insecurity and injustice, for women and girls, men and boys, LGBT persons and persons of diverse gender identities, often limiting the equal protection of rights,” said Siobhán Mullally, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children. “Achievement of gender equality requires a transformation of gendered relations of power and inequality, and recognition of the indivisibility of rights – economic, social and cultural, civil and political.”

In her report to the General Assembly, Mullally called for effective measures to address the gendered impact of trafficking in persons in the WPS agenda and related action plans and programmes. She presents targeted recommendations to strengthen action to combat trafficking in persons in the WPS agenda, prioritising human rights of trafficked persons, effective prevention and accountability measures, including reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence.

While recognition of trafficking in persons for purposes of sexual exploitation, or sexual slavery, as a form of sexual violence in conflict has increased attention to such risks, other forms of trafficking in persons, for purposes of forced labour, forced marriage, or domestic servitude, receive less attention, resulting in failures to identify, assist and protect victims of trafficking, and failures of prevention, the Special Rapporteur’s report noted.

She also raised concerns about limited attention to rights of persons with disabilities in WPS actions, and in peacebuilding measures, despite women and girls with disabilities being disproportionately impacted by armed conflict.

Mullally said racism and racial discrimination play a pivotal role in increasing the risks of trafficking in persons and in limiting the effectiveness of prevention, protection and assistance measures.

“In conflict and post-conflict situations, discrimination and violence against indigenous peoples, persons of African descent, and racialised and minority communities intersect with gender and gender inequalities to increase the risks of trafficking in persons for all purposes of exploitation, including by armed groups and armed forces, by criminal organisations and networks, and in communities,” she said.

“It is critical now that we effectively implement all pillars of the WPS agenda, in particular ensuring participation and leadership of those most affected by conflict related trafficking in persons in the design and implementation of peacebuilding measures, and in recovery programmes that ensure economic, social and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights,” the expert said.