The UN Security Council unanimously approved a new resolution aimed at cracking down on human trafficking and modern slavery after a video of a Libyan slave market sparked global outrage.
Thomson Reuters Foundation reports that the resolution “called on countries to adopt anti-trafficking laws, ramp up efforts to investigate and dismantle criminal networks and provide greater support for survivors of slavery.” It also urges countries to cooperate on sharing data and technology that can help stop traffickers.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says that human trafficking is not only a crime — it is also a matter of development tied to the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Preventing the situations that lead to trafficking means addressing poverty and exclusion in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” he told the 15-member council.
The United Nations has a global goal to eradicate forced labour and slavery by 2030 and end all child labour by 2025 – as part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2015 to end poverty, tackle climate change and promote equality.
Guterres added that he was “horrified” by the video revealing how African migrants are being sold off at Libyan slave markets. Human trafficking is estimated to generate around $150 billion in illegal profits annually.
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