The United Office on Drugs and Crime held a Panel Discussion on Trafficking in Persons & Goodwill Ambassador appointment ceremony; this event was organized as part of the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT). Mr. Antonio Maria Costa,
UNODC Excutive-Director gave highlights from the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. He reported The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons came into effect in December, 2003, and has inspired widespread legislative response. As of November, 2003,
63% of the 155 countries and territories surveyed had passed laws against trafficking in persons.
He went on to say, however, that much more is needed to be done before this particular scourge is eliminated. Other speakers included the Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt who gave encouraging data from his country of enforced legislation against traffickers. Mr. Kevin Bates, President of Free the Slaves Organization, also gave an impressive account of activities his group is carrying out. Ms. Mira Sorvino, Academy Award winning actress and humanitarian was appointed UNODC Goodwill Ambassador for the year 2009. She will travel globally winning support for anti-trafficking legislation and cooperation.
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