Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Katalin Bogyay Permanent Representative at the Appointment Ceremony of Ms. Nadia Murad Basee Taha As Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking on 16 September 2016.
Ms. Murad,
Last December I had the chance to talk to you in person when you told me horrific details of your personal drama. Thank you for your bravery for sharing it with the world. I know that thousands of victims feel stronger because of your tireless advocacy, because of your voice!
I remember you mentioned me that you cut your hair short so that those monsters would not so much fancy you. I am so happy to welcome you here in the UN again with your beautiful, long hair and I salute you from the bottom of my heart. We admire your strength and courage to step up against the evil of Da’esh , its brutality and for the sake of the victims of modern slavery.
I would like to thank UNODC for this important initiative, and to use this opportunity to applaud Mme. Amal Clooney for providing legal assistance to bringing Da’esh to justice.
Your presence Mme, here and work worldwide actually symbolizes our firm commitment that the international community must do everything to ensure that the perpetrators of these horrific crimes are held to account. In this context, Hungary is ready to join the global campaign initiated by UK and Belgium to bring Da’esh to justice and we encourage others to do the same.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today the expansion of violent extremism and terrorism pose the greatest challenges to our world. In addition to committing mass killings, destroying cultural heritage, and carrying out other brutalities, ISIL and other terrorist organizations have institutionalized slavery and sexual violence to facilitate recruitment by promising male fighters access to women, to generate revenue, to terrorize local communities, or to displace inhabitants from strategic territories. A historically well-known tactic in the 21st century!
Religious and ethnic cleansing is an ancient crime. The systematic targeting of Yazidis, Christians, and other religious and ethnic minorities threatens not only peace and security but also the mere existence of these communities. Hungary is of the view that the preservation of the region’s multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-confessional character is of utmost importance also for ensuring peace and security in the long term.
Slavery is a crime that violates the most fundamental human rights of its victims. It steals the most precious values of human beings: their freedom and dignity. We must concentrate on helping the victims and listening to their needs.
Raising awareness of the magnitude of the problem is crucial. Although the prohibition of slavery is one of the strongest norms, only a few people know that there are more people in slavery today than at any time in human history. According to recent estimates, between 20.9 and 45.8 million people are enslaved across the globe. This is also the reason why we encourage the next Secretary-General of the UN to make combatting slavery and human trafficking one of the key areas of focus.
Thank you for your attention.
