Current Affairs Brain Booster for UPSC & State PCS Examination (Topic: The World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2020)

Brain Booster for UPSC & State PCS Examination

Current Affairs Brain Booster for UPSC & State PCS Examination

Topic: The World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2020

The World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2020

Why in News?

  • The World Day against Trafficking in Persons is marked on July 30 every year to raise awareness about the menace of human trafficking and to protect the human rights of the victims.

First Responders against Trafficking

  • The 2020 theme for the World Day against Trafficking in Persons will focus on the first responders to human trafficking. ( These are the people who work in different sectors - identifying, supporting, counselling and seeking justice for victims of trafficking, and challenging the impunity of the traffickers.
  • The role of first responders has become even more challenging amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With restrictions on the movement, the work of detecting trafficking has met several roadblocks.
  • But despite the pandemic, the first responders continue to do their duties. And thus UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has decided to honour their hard work amid trying times.
  • According to the UNODC, people are being trafficked for various exploitative purposes including forced marriage, begging, labour, sexual exploitation, organs removal, selling children and child soldiers.

About UNTOC

  • The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, adopted by General Assembly resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000, is the main international instrument in the fight against transnational organized crime.
  • The Convention represents a major step forward in the fight against transnational organized crime and signifies the recognition by member states of the seriousness of the problems posed by it, as well as the need to foster and enhance close international cooperation in order to tackle those problems.

Palermo Protocols

  • Palermo protocols are three protocols that were adopted by the United Nations to supplement the UNTOC (the Palermo Convention). They are: ( the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children; ( the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air; and ( The Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.
  • These protocols and convention fall within the jurisdiction of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
  • Protocol defines trafficking as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer of persons by either threat, use of force, abduction or fraud. Where one person has control over another person for the purpose of exploitation. The protocol further defines exploitation as prostitution, sexual exploitation, slavery, forced labour or services or even removal of organs.”
  • It is the first global legally binding instrument with an agreed definition on trafficking in persons.

The Blue Heart Campaign

  • The UN has initiated 'The Blue Heart Campaign' to raise global awareness to fight human trafficking and its impact on society.
  • It seeks to encourage involvement from governments, civil society, the corporate sector and individuals alike, to inspire action and help prevent this heinous crime.
  • The Blue Heart is increasingly recognized as the international symbol against human trafficking, representing the sadness of those who are trafficked while reminding us of the cold-heartedness of those who buy and sell fellow human beings.
  • The campaign allows people to show their solidarity with the victims of human trafficking and increasing their visibility by wearing the Blue Heart.