World Day against Trafficking in Persons

World Day against Trafficking in Persons

World Day against Trafficking in Persons is an observance aimed at raising awareness about the heinous crime of human trafficking, as well as fostering cooperation in eradicating the issue worldwide. It seeks to promote prevention, protection, and support for trafficking victims, along with strengthening partnerships among governments, civil society, and the private sector. A significant focus of the observance is on the vulnerability of women and children, especially as they comprise the majority of victims.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2013 to establishWorld Day against Trafficking in Persons. In New Zealand, human trafficking is recognized as a form of modern-day slavery, involving the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for forced labor, sexual exploitation, or servitude through coercion, deception, or threat of force. The New Zealand government places great importance on combating this issue, evident in the introduction of the Human Trafficking Act 2015, which strengthened New Zealand's legislative response to human trafficking.

Observance of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons in New Zealand typically involves efforts to educate the public about the reality and prevalence of human trafficking. Various campaigns, such as increased social media presence, public discussion forums, and workshops help to raise awareness about the signs of trafficking in persons and how one can help fight this crime. This observance aims to foster a collaborative approach to combat trafficking, working towards a world where human dignity and freedom prevail. New Zealanders join the global community in marking this important day on July 30th every year.

Facts about Human Trafficking

• The theme for World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2023 was Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind.
• The average cost of a slave globally is $90.
• Since 2015, there have been four people trafficking prosecutions in New Zealand, with at least 51 victims identified.
• Walk Free estimated that in 2016 around 3,000 people in New Zealand were in conditions of modern slavery

In the News and Trending in NZ for World Day against Trafficking in Persons

Top things to do in NZ for this observance

• Spread awareness about the day by using the hashtags #WorldDayAgainstTraffickinginPersons and #IGiveHope.
• Donate to charities: Not For Sale, Unisex or Polaris Project. All donations go toward protecting people and communities around the world from modern-day slavery and human trafficking. They have directly supported thousands of people around the world back to lives of freedom and meaning.
• Watch Slavery in New Zealand: A Hidden Tragedy. Produced by the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, the documentary takes a closer look at the issues surrounding human trafficking and modern-day slavery within the country.
• Read The New Slave Trade: A Comprehensive Guide to Modern Slavery by Carrie Pemberton Ford.