A comprehensive approach to combating illicit trafficking

2 October 2009 - A high level forum to look at comprehensive approaches to combat illicit trafficking just concluded in Geneva, Switzerland.

From 28 to 29 September 2009, the Geneva Centre of Security Policy hosted the forum entitled "A Comprehensive Approach to Combating Illicit Trafficking" in conjunction with the US-based Institute of Foreign Policy Analysis, with additional support of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, NATO, and the US Defence Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

The forum provided an opportunity for participants from different international organisations to discuss ways in which they could pool their unique areas of expertise to assist the global fight against illicit trafficking.

The discussion began with an overview of how illicit trafficking is currently being approached by the key European regional organisations. Participants drew connections between the various forms of illicit trafficking, and discussed the reasons why a comprehensive approach is necessary in the current interconnected geopolitical environment.

UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa, who was in attendance, voiced concerns about "a wide range of malign actors involved in trafficking". He welcomed the use of a comprehensive approach, saying, "by taking a comprehensive approach, we can cast the net wide enough to cover the entire trafficking process - from the criminals who acquire a product at its source, to the traffickers who bring it to market."

Referring to the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking, (UN.GIFT) and its one UN approach, Mr. Costa called on participants to strengthen their national and regional capacity in line with the UN Convention against Translational Organized Crime. "It is the world's strongest anti-trafficking instrument. I urge you to unlock the potential of this treaty to combat all forms of organized crime, particularly those covered by its three Protocols, namely trafficking in persons, firearms and smuggling of weapons."

Doris Buddenberg, Senior Manager with the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Unit at UNODC addressed the lack of data with regard to human trafficking interventions. "We should encourage coordinated data collection exercises, joint research activities and joint publication of global reports on human trafficking to address the issue more comprehensively and provide policy-makers evidence-based knowledge", she said.

The workshop concluded with realistic steps to be taken to lay groundwork for a comprehensive approach in the future, despite the immensity of the problem of illicit trafficking. Participants expressed wishes for a similar workshop to be held in a year to review the commitments and collaboration achieved to date.

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Geneva Centre for Security Policy