EU Statement – UN General Assembly: UN global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons

Thank you, Madame President!

Honourable Members of the General Assembly,

Dear participants,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. 

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Armenia, Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

Trafficking in persons is a serious crime, a gross violation of fundamental rights, affecting thousands of people in the EU and worldwide. Preventing and combating trafficking and supporting the victims remains a priority for the EU and its Member States. In this regard, we welcome the adoption of the Political Declaration on the implementation of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, and we highlight that its implementation is crucial in our joint and multilateral effort to fight this horrible crime. 

As a transnational and global crime, it demands a united approach. We stand firmly behind the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Trafficking in Persons Protocol, to which the EU and its Member States are parties.

In the EU, trafficking for sexual exploitation remains the most prevalent form of trafficking in persons. However, there is a notable and concerning shift, with an increasing number of victims being trafficked for labour exploitation. It should also be noted that nearly three quarters of all victims and 92% of the victims trafficked for sexual exploitation are women and girls. These concerning trends are not isolated but rather reflect patterns observed globally, underscoring the need for comprehensive international action to combat trafficking in all its forms. Moreover, trafficking for forced criminal activities is on the rise, as organised criminal networks employ deceit and coercion to lure individuals in illegal operations, including drugs trafficking and extreme violence. Recent documented cases indicate a growing convergence between trafficking, organised criminal activity, and cross-border smuggling, including through the misuse of airspace in the region.

In the EU, children represent 19% of registered trafficking victims, with a significant majority being girls. Safeguarding children from all forms of violence and upholding their rights remains a top priority for the EU.

The proliferation of online platforms poses additional risks, as traffickers use these numerous tools to recruit, exploit, control and advertise victims, organise their transport and accommodation, and communicate with clients and other perpetrators. Technology and artificial intelligence also amplify traffickers’ capabilities, enabling exploitation of victims on a larger scale, while providing greater anonymity and lower risk.

To combat these evolving threats, coordinated and comprehensive action is imperative. The EU calls for enhanced international cooperation and robust legal frameworks, urging the implementation of innovative technologies for detection, prevention and the prosecution of traffickers, while ensuring the protection of victims. Empowering law enforcement and judicial bodies to dismantle organised crime networks and enhancing community awareness and resilience are crucial steps.

The EU condemns the intensifying hybrid threats along its eastern borders, including the instrumentalisation of migration as a tool of political pressure, frequently coordinated by actors aiming to destabilise public order and undermine security.

Furthermore, engagement with the private sector, civil society and digital platforms is vital. Together, we can harness technology not as a tool of exploitation, but as an ally in combatting trafficking, ensuring safe, secure and transparent online environments.

The EU has a solid legal and policy framework in place to address trafficking in persons. In this regard, the revised EU Anti-trafficking Directive introduces the exploitation of surrogacy, of illegal adoption and of forced marriage among the forms of exploitation, and provides stronger tools for law enforcement and judicial authorities to investigate and prosecute new forms of exploitation, including those that take place online, ensuring a higher level of assistance and support to victims. EU Member States are now required to establish formal referral mechanisms, enhancing early identification and assistance to victims. It is also required to the establish national Anti-Trafficking Coordinators and National Anti-Trafficking Plans.

The EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings also provides a comprehensive response to trafficking, from preventing the crime and protecting and empowering victims to bringing traffickers to justice. 

The EU and its Member States will work in 2026 towards a renewed EU Strategy to better take into account remaining shortcomings and emerging challenges.

The EU and its Member States remain committed to working closely with international partners to eradicate trafficking in human beings, and any other forms of similar exploitation, be it for criminal or political purposes, and to ensure responsible actors are held accountable and victims are better protected.

We will continue to advance comprehensive measures against trafficking in persons, address emerging hybrid threats, including at our external borders, and contribute actively to further developments at international and European levels, with full respect for fundamental rights and humanitarian principles. 

Thank you for your attention.

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.