14 July 2016 - The Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN) and Other International Organizations in Geneva, together with the German and Indonesian Missions to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva, organized a panel discussion entitled “Trafficking of Persons Fleeing Conflict” on June 14 at the sidelines of the 32nd Session of the Human Rights Council at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Minister Fos explained that everyone should “vigorously continue the advocacy to end the menace of trafficking in persons” and remember that “all persons, regardless of the situations they are in, are human beings with rights and dignity that must always be upheld.”
“Trafficking in persons is an unfortunate reality—a picture of weak and vulnerable migrants and refugees and asylum seekers and ravaged by the well-organized, exploitative and, oftentimes, ruthless human vultures commonly called traffickers and human smugglers,” Minister Fos added.
The panelists discussed best practices and experiences in preventing trafficking in persons fleeing conflict, especially women and children, and provided suggestions for a collaborative, human rights-based approach to prevent human trafficking.
Panelists include the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Advisor on Migration and Human Rights Pia Oberoi, Caritas Internationalis Policy and Advocacy Director Martina Liebsch, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Specialist on Assistance to Vulnerable Migrants Michela Machiavello, non-governmental organization Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) Director Michele LeVoy, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Legal Specialist Sarah Elliott. END