Date: 2 June 2008
Venue: United Nations Headquarters, New York

In view of the UN General Assembly’s debate on the topic scheduled for 3 June, Third Committee deliberations, and this year’s agenda of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) this seminar will offer experts’ views on emerging issues linked to the global fight against human trafficking. It will also consider issues stemming from the Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking, held on 13-15 February 2008, which launched the implementation phase of the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (GIFT).

In all these fora, multiple perspectives on and approaches to tackling human trafficking continue to exist. Nevertheless, there is increasing recognition of the need to place the human rights of trafficked persons, particularly women and children, at the centre of all efforts. Still, interpretations of what constitutes a human-rights based approach to human trafficking vary, and implementation remains a challenge.