Topic: 2024-Indigenous Languages
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Macie Minor
Human trafficking is defined as “the unlawful act of transporting or coercing people in order to benefit from their work or service, typically in the form of forced labor or sexual exploitation”. Yet, that definition is far from covering the convoluted business that is human trafficking. There are about 27 million victims of human trafficking each year, around 60% of victims will be female, and about 38% of all victims will be sexually exploited with the rest being forced into labor(“Human Trafficking – Polaris”). More than 155 countries deal with human trafficking with only a few having truly effective legislative actions against offenders, with some lacking any form of policies or repercussions against said offenders. T The biggest obstacles the UN faces with human trafficking is the securing of unmonitored borders, loose migration policies, and the lack of reporting as well as victim resources.
Germany as of recent years has done its part to increase the funding and efforts surrounding the fight against human trafficking. Germany has funded multiple projects such as Ukrainian victims in “lover boy” trafficking and a widely used victim hotline which helped implement more hotlines across the country. With regard to more trafficked labor practices, Germany has cracked down on forced labor and employment passing multiple multiple pieces of legislation such as The Human Rights Due Diligence Act requiring companies with over 1,00 employees to do their due diligence through risk management and risk control all overseen by the Federal Office of Economic Affairs and Export Control. 2023’s Passport Act is a great example of Germany’s efforts toward preventive methods of trafficking that have shown an increase of awareness and safety (“2024 Trafficking in Persons Report: Germany”).
Considering the increase of human trafficking and its now digital life Germany can not emphasize the vitality of preventative measures and greater governmental involvement in the passing of new and stricter legislation. The Protocol passed in November of 2000 covers a majority of increasing campaigns, stricter convictions, and more restrictive border and migration practices, but lacks to address the evolution of trafficking facilitated online. Training and awareness campaigns should now also be shared to social media with greater focus on online safety and the warning behaviors that traffickers and risky messages exhibit. Similarly, tourism destinations need to be far more regulated, such as permission forms and passes granted in specific areas including background checks of criminal history. Funding in all areas should continue to increase annually even in small percentages. Support for NGOs, investigative organizations and efforts, and victim support resources must be more widespread and distributed between all areas. It is the UN’s responsibility to ensure the safety and future of upcoming generations as well as protecting past victims in all areas.
Works Cited
“Human Trafficking – Polaris.” Polaris Project, https://polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/. Accessed 25 November 2024.
“2024 Trafficking in Persons Report: Germany.” U.S. Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/germany/. Accessed 26 November 2024.
United Nations. “Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime.”
United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, www.unodc.org/res/human-trafficking/2021the-protocol-tip_html/TIP.pdf.
“Germany – United States Department of State.” United States Department of State, 24 June 2024, www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/germany.
