• Keynote Speech • The status of human trafficking in migrant women around the world and the role of international community Joy Ngozi EZEILO (Special Rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council on trafficking in persons) Ⅰ. Introduction My profound thanks to the organizers of this important event for inviting me to present a keynote address at this occasion on a very topical issue plaguing humanity today trafficking in human beings especially women and children. I have been asked to give a keynote address on specifically the “Status of Human Trafficking of Migrant Women Around the World and the Role of the International Community” Trafficking in persons or human trafficking or trafficking in human beings is in short, modern form of slavery that is unfortunately growing in scale and repercussions. Although, very difficult to quantify it is hugely underestimated because of its insidious, complex and dynamic nature. People are trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery or practices similar to slavery or the removal of organs. As one of the fastest growing criminal activities in the world, trafficking in persons results in serious breaches of human rights and dignity of trafficked persons. Trafficking occurs within and across national borders, often with victims crossing many borders to reach their final destination.1) The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children 2000 (known as Palermo Protocol), defines “Trafficking in Persons” in its Article 3 as follows: 1) See the report Joy Ezeilo, the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children‐Doc. A/HRC/10/16 of 20th February, 2009 and presented to the Human Rights Council on 12th March 2009; also UN General Assembly Doc. A/64/290 of 12th August 2009 presented on 23rd October, 2009. The Status of Human Trafficking of Migrant Women Around the World and the Role of the International Community ❙ 3