Ambassador says human trafficking is modern day slavery

At a Congressional Human Rights Caucus Briefing today, Ambassador Mark Lagon, director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the U.S. State Department, discussed human trafficking from conflict zones in sub-Saharan Africa. UNICEF estimates that conscription of child soldiers affects more than 300,000 children under the age of 18 in more than 30 armed conflicts worldwide.

In December 2007, the United Nations noted that evidence suggests refugee and internally displace person (IDP) camps are often prime recruiting grounds for child soldiers because of the concentration of vulnerable children. Lagon said that human trafficking is modern day slavery. Child soldiers undergo severe physical and psychological trauma, sexual abuse and are high risks of receiving sexually transmitted diseases and rehabilitation is incredibly difficult.

Lagon stressed the need for widespread education about trafficking, what it is and what it entails, which will decrease it from happening in large part. The United States has a “zero tolerance for trafficking” and the abetting of sexual prostitution, said Lagon. Congress has strengthened anti-trafficking legislation and contributed more than $74 million in funding last year for efforts to end slavery abroad. The money has been used for rehabilitation for victims, special housing shelters, law enforcement training, information and awareness campaigns and combating sex tourism.

Lagon said that the United States is asking governments to immediately take action to increase rescues of trafficking victims and prosecutions of traffickers, people freed from slavery must be treated as victims of crime and the demand for modern-day slaves must be stopped.

Video Update on Myanmar, Live From the United Nations

After a press conference with John Holmes and Ban Ki-moon, Dan Patterson gives a video update on Myanmar.

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High-Energy Biscuits to Myanmar: WFP Spokesperson Bettina Luescher

WFP Spokesperson Bettina Luescher displays one of the "high-energy biscuits" being sent to Myanmar.

Nicole Kidman and UNIFEM at the United Nations

Today actress Nicole Kidman spoke at the United Nations in New York to discuss her role as United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Goodwill Ambassador.



Kidman, and a panel of representatives that included Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, UNIFEM Executive Director Joanne Sandler, and UN Foundation President Timothy Wirth, discussed the organization's Say NO to Violence against Women campaign.



The Say NO to Violence Against Women campaign is an internet-based education and advocacy campaign intended to both encourage world leaders to speak out against gender-based violence, and raise the public's awareness of violence against women. According to the panel, one in three women world-wide are subjected to violence, both domestically and as an instrument of terror. Thus far, the website has attracted the interest of some world figures, and it's on-line petition has received over 200k signatures.

The panel representatives all indicated that that although they receive requests for over $100 million in assistance, they currently operate with a budget of approximately $15 million.

UN Foundation President Tim Wirth indicated a particular concern over climate change and food shortages, stating that [climate change] will "stress society in every way."



Kidman first became involved with UNIFEM in 1996.  She became interested in the organization after a BBC story highlighted some of the organization's  struggles for publicity.   After two years of work, Kidman stated "I still find it impossible to wrap my head around the fact that just by being born a woman, you are at risk of the most appalling and probably most widespread human rights violation of our time."

News From the United Nations 11.4.08

The Spokesperson for the Secretary-General has issued a statement thanking the leaders of the Southern African Development Community for their efforts in organizing a leadership summit to address the still-contested Zimbabwe elections.  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is increasingly concerned with the electoral  crisis in Zimbabwe.  The electoral battle between Robert Mugabe and challenger Morgan Tsvangirai could worsen as regional drought threatens to compound the situation with added pressure economic instability. 

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The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has issued a report on the humanitarian situation in Somalia.  The report cites Food Security Analysis Unit's claim that the situation in Somalia is "deteriorating faster than expected."  The report states that  dry conditions throughout the region have contributed to higher levels of disease and malnutrition.  The report also cites food security analysts and weather forecasters' predictions that "full blown impact" of the drought will be flet between July and August, 2008.

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The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued a report that predicts cereal import prices will rise significantly for the world's poorest countries this year.  The report states that prices will rise by 56 percent and contribute to increases in malnutrition.  Concurrently, the World Food Programme (WFP) is preparing a report on the impact of higher food prices in the world's 30 poorest countries. 


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Next week at the United Nations:
- In Vienna, the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention will meet in Vienna.
- Oslo will host a conference on the importance of statistics in understanding climate change information.
- On Friday, April 18th, Pope Benedict XVI will be at the United Nations in New York.