Topic:
Country: Spain
Delegate Name: Madelyn Lower
Committee: The Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee
Topic: Human Trafficking
Country: The Kingdom of Spain
Delegate: Madelyn Lower, New Prairie High School, New Carlisle, IN
Human trafficking, as defined by the United Nations, is the “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of people through force, fraud, or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit.” This practice includes many forms, including forced labor, domestic servitude, forced child labor, sex trafficking, and child sex trafficking. Despite recent awareness directed at the issue, the practice of human trafficking has increased to approximately 24.9 million people each year, but it is impossible to know an exact consensus. In order to address this issue, 175 nations have enacted legislation prohibiting human trafficking.
The Kingdom of Spain expresses great concern for the growing number of victims of human trafficking and greatly condemns this barbaric practice. In November of 2022, Spain established the Comprehensive Law to Combat Trafficking and Exploitation of Human Beings, aiming to provide assistance and support to victims and deter the practice. Article 318 of the Criminal and Penal Code punishes any human trafficking offenders with five to fifteen years in prison. Due to its geographic location, Spain is frequently used as a transit country connecting the Americas and Africa to Europe and Asia. Spain is actively in the process of implementing the National Strategic Plan to prevent this by intercepting traffickers at the border.
All forms of human trafficking are violations of basic human rights and are considered modern slavery. In order to address the concerns of human trafficking, Spain proposes, in conjunction with the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR), the following strategies to combat this crime:
While several nations have already established laws and regulations against this practice, there is a pressing need for more severe repercussions for violators. This plan begins with increased enforcement against traffickers to deter them from the practice. Additionally, Spain suggests increased border control and a more thorough identification process of all individuals leaving or entering the country, which will help limit the illegal trafficking of persons.
Citations:
“Human Trafficking.” United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, https://www.unodc.org/unodc/human-trafficking/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
Dyvik, Einar H. “Topic: Human Trafficking.” Statista, www.statista.com/topics/4238/human-trafficking/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, www.state.gov/reports/2022-trafficking-in-persons-report/spain/#:~:text=The%Government%of%Spain%fully,for%the%second%consecutive%year. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
“Spain.” Migration and Home Affairs, home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/internal-security/organised-crime-and-human-trafficking/together-against-trafficking-human-beings/eu-countries/spain_en#:~:text=National%Strategic%Plan%against%trafficking,from%all%the parties%involved.&text=There%has%also%been%collaboration,Network%against%Trafficking%in%Persons. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.
