Hungary co-sponsored a very successful ministerial-level side event at the 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women with Liechtenstein and the USA on “Combatting the Trafficking of Women and Girls: What Role Can the Private Sector Play in Addressing and Preventing Human Trafficking and Modern-day Slavery?”
Ambassador Bogyay, who co-chaired the meeting, stressed that raising awareness and strengthened coordination among the key actors were necessary to fight modern slavery that affected women, men and children of all nationalities, including many Hungarians.
The side event offered an excellent opportunity to start the discussion on how Member States, relevant UN agencies, the private sector, and civil society could work together to ensure the implementation of Target 8.7 of the 2030 Agenda and to explore how the gap between the strong international norms against modern-day slavery and their lack of enforcement could be closed.
Ms Katalin Novák, the Hungarian Minister of State for Family and Youth Affairs, who also spoke at the event, listed political leadership, prevention, awareness raising, improved coordination, positive engagement of stakeholders, and sharing best practices as key steps to eradicate this global problem.
According to Dr. Aurelia Frick, Liechtenstein’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, slavery disregards and undermines the humanity of its victims and ending the culture of immunity for such crimes should be a priority. Other speakers included H.E. Ambassador Sarah E. Mendelson, U.S. Representative to the ECOSOC; senior representatives of the UNODC, ILO and the UN’s Global Compact; Ms Shirley Pryce trade union activist and former domestic worker; as well as representatives of the private sector.
