Chinese envoy calls for joint efforts to combat trafficking in persons

A Chinese envoy Tuesday called on the international community to fight against trafficking in persons in conflict areas and protect rights and interests of women and children in a joint endeavor.

Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, made the appeal at a Security Council debate on the topic of trafficking in persons in conflict situations.

Wu said with conflicts breaking out and dragging on, women and children become vulnerable groups who are subjected to violence and crime.

Therefore, he noted that countries need to deepen international cooperation in areas like border control, financial regulation and judicial assistance to combat this transnational organized crime.

At the debate, the Security Council adopted a resolution which asked UN member states to investigate and dismantle networks involved in trafficking in persons in areas of armed conflict.

Outgoing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned the council that extremist groups like the Islamic State, Boko Haram and Al Shabaab are using trafficking and sexual violence as a weapon of terror as well as an important source of revenue.

He urged countries to adopt dedicated anti-trafficking laws and national action plans and consider creating law enforcement units to address this threat. Enditem