Human trafficking is a horrific crime that targets the most vulnerable in our societies.
On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we focus on the most vulnerable among us – children.
Children account for one-third of trafficking victims, suffering unspeakable abuse – whether they are forced into labour, sold off as brides, recruited as soldiers, or coerced into criminal activities. Rising inequalities and globalization have fuelled complex trafficking networks that challenge traditional legal frameworks, creating new forms of slavery. Online platforms further expose children to sexual exploitation and gender-based violence and allow traffickers to exploit victims across borders.
The physical and psychological scars of these crimes persist long into adulthood, robbing them of their innocence, futures and fundamental rights.
We must strengthen protection responses – including child-sensitive justice mechanisms, raise awareness, support unaccompanied children on the move, provide care for survivors, and tackle the root causes of exploitation by helping vulnerable families.
I call upon governments, civil society, and the private sector, including tech companies, to intensify their efforts and collaboration so that no child is victimized and no trafficker goes unpunished.
On this day, let us renew our commitment for a future where every child is safe and free.
By its 
While conflict has many causes, genocidal conflict is identity-based. Genocide and related atrocities tend to occur in societies with diverse national, racial, ethnic or religious groups that are locked in identity-related conflicts. It is not simply differences in identity, whether real or perceived, that generate conflict, but the implication of those differences in terms of access to power and wealth, services and resources, employment, development opportunities, citizenship and the enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms. These conflicts are fomented by discrimination, hate speech inciting violence and other violations of human rights.
Chaque année autour du 27 janvier, l’UNESCO rend hommage à la mémoire des victimes de l’Holocauste et réaffirme son engagement indéfectible à lutter contre l’antisémitisme, le racisme et les autres formes d’intolérance qui peuvent conduire à la violence ciblée sur un groupe. La date marque l’anniversaire de la libération du camp de concentration et d’extermination nazi d’Auschwitz-Birkenau par les troupes soviétiques le 27 janvier 1945, et a été officiellement proclamée Journée internationale dédiée à la mémoire des victimes de l’Holocauste par l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies.
« Cette première Journée mondiale de la dignité des victimes de la traite d’êtres humains est un appel à l’action pour faire cesser ce crime et donner de l’espoir aux victimes, qui vivent souvent autour de nous alors que nous ignorons tout de leur sort. Pour arrêter les trafiquants, il nous faut couper leurs voies de financement et saisir leurs avoirs. J’exhorte tous les pays à ratifier et à appliquer intégralement la Convention des Nations Unies contre la criminalité transnationale organisée et son Protocole additionnel relatif à la traite d’êtres humains ». 