HRC47 - NB8 statement - Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
47th session
Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children
28 June 2021
Nordic-Baltic Intervention
Madam President,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic countries [Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and my own country Sweden].
We highly welcome the report of the Special Rapporteur, Ms Siobhán Mullally.
Safeguarding the protection and human rights of victims of trafficking are crucial. More must done to prevent trafficking including in conflict and other humanitarian situations. Following the principle of non-punishment of victims, trafficked persons should not be subject to arrest, charge, detention, prosecution, or be penalized or otherwise punished for illegal conduct that they committed as a direct consequence of being trafficked.
We constantly need to enhance our knowledge and efforts on how to ensure the rights and protection of victims. The Nordic and Baltic countries are therefore grateful for the Special Rapporteur’s set of recommendations aimed at supporting the application of the non-punishment principle.
Madame Special Rapporteur,
As a part of the crime scheme traffickers can use victims to commit acts proximate to the exploitation itself. By doing so they expose victims to greater risk while they also shield themselves from prosecution. What needs to be done to ensure that traffickers do not evade criminal liability and that victims of trafficking are not punished for the crimes of their perpetrators?
I thank you.