Bangladesh’s commitment to combating the global scourge of human trafficking

UsaNewsOnline.Com, New York : Addressing the Security Council at the Open High Level Debate on ‘Trafficking in Persons in Conflict Situation: Forced Labour, Slavery and other Similar Practices’ 15 March, Ambassador Masud Bin Momen, Permanent Representative (PR) of Bangladesh to the United Nations reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to combating the global scourge of human trafficking.

The Ambassador shared how Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s personal commitment to combating this scourge has translated into a series of legal, policy and administrative measures at the national level. He stated, “At national level, we enacted the Human Trafficking Deterrence and Suppression Act, 2012, and adopted the National Plan of Action 2015-17 to implement the comprehensive law. Under the Plan of Action, regular monitoring and coordination mechanisms have been operationalized at the national, district and sub-district levels through GO-NGO partnership. We remain focused on further improving capacity on data collection and management, effective information campaign strategy and prosecution and early disposal of trafficking cases”.

In this regard, mentioning Bangladesh Government’s initiatives at International and Regional level he said, “Bangladesh became party to the UNTOC and has remained consistently active within the Group of Friends United against Human Trafficking. At regional level, we have spearheaded an initiative to broaden and institutionalize the scope of counter-trafficking cooperation under the aegis of SAARC and BIMSTEC”.

For combating Human Trafficking in conflict situation, the Permanent Representative made five suggestions, these are: a) designating a high-level focal point for coordinating and monitoring the UN system-wide work against trafficking in persons, b) victims of trafficking in person and related crimes, including those in conflict situation, must to remain in the forefront of the UN counter-trafficking agenda, c) strengthening national legislative measures and fostering international cooperation by enabling legal framework by UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crimes (UNTOC) and its additional protocols, d) continuing advocacy and support by UN for compliance with relevant international legal instruments and obligation, e) addressing the root causes of trafficking in persons and other related crimes.

The Ambassador reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to join hands with fellow Member States in further strengthening the UN’s coordinated response and action against trafficking in persons, slavery and forced labour.