Topic: 2024-Human Trafficking
Country: Ethiopia
Delegate Name: Finola Green
The delegation of Ethiopia is called to address the issue of human trafficking here at GLIMUN. According to The United Nations Human Rights: Office of the High Commissioner, “Human trafficking is generally understood to refer to the process through which individuals are placed or maintained in an exploitative situation for economic gain.” Human Trafficking is a worldwide crisis, not just in Ethiopia. All types of people are trafficked for different reasons, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, and forced labor. Exploiting those who are vulnerable to trafficking has been a successful, yet illegal, industry for years. But over the past decade, it has become a “major concern” (UNHR: OOTHC) This shift in importance shows the responsibility of the state to voice concern and demand change with policy. A policy could include treaties in this case, although this topic is a complicated issue.
In Ethiopia, our efforts focus on improving legislation, enforcement, and victim support, about human trafficking. Ethiopia, with support from the United Nations, enacted anti-trafficking legislation to strengthen its ability to combat human trafficking and smuggling. To ensure effective enforcement, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has provided training to Ethiopian legal professionals on investigative techniques and prosecution strategies. Relatively, there are ongoing conflict-related vulnerabilities that primarily affect women and children. Regions like Tigray, Amhara, and Afar have heightened risks of trafficking, with UN officials urging the need for urgent action with medical and psychological care for victims. The UNODC calling for “giving hope” to victims of human trafficking in 2015 shows the unimaginable hardships that people who have been trafficked face. These efforts highlight a commitment to combating trafficking through legal reforms, capacity-building, and victim-centered interventions while recognizing that challenges like limited resources and regional instability require continued attention and collaboration.
With every issue, the UN can aid in strengthening the process of efforts against trafficking. By promoting programs that address poverty and unemployment—key drivers of trafficking—the UN can reduce vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit, with efforts including members of the Ethiopian government. The UN can support Ethiopia in providing shelter, medical care, psychological support, and legal aid for trafficking survivors; along with skill and job training, preventing re-victimization. Also, adapting to evolving trafficking methods and trafficking may prevent further distortions. Overall, Ethiopia shows its support for victims of human trafficking, and we support policies that criminalize it.
