"For years now we have been at the forefront of the problem of trafficking in human beings, on our land and sea borders, which are also borders of the EU, while we have been confronted with the inhumane practices of traffickers in the Aegean Sea, which are supported or encouraged by agencies of third countries. We have saved thousands of lives at sea and we will continue to do so".
This is the message sent by Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis in an online intervention during the Plenary Session of the 4-year High Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the appraisal of the UN Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, which is being held today and tomorrow at UN Headquarters.
Mr. Varvitsiotis noted that the pandemic added new risks to victims of trafficking in human beings, especially women and unaccompanied minors, as, according to World Bank data, the recession caused by the pandemic would force 40 to 60 million people into extreme poverty, at the very time when international financial assistance has been reduced by 20%. In addition, travel restrictions can force many migrants and refugees in search of more dangerous migration routes.
As the Alternate Minister stressed, "the politically motivated instrumentalisation of migrants sends vulnerable persons, such as women and children, into the arms of traffickers" and "as long as the problem of human trafficking is still exacerbated by third parties, it is necessary to maintain our solidarity and do everything possible to protect these victims. That is why it is crucial to send this message today that cooperation and understanding between neighbouring countries are of vital importance".
In particular, Mr. Varvitsiotis underscored that "Greece has taken decisive and concrete steps to combat the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings, placing particular emphasis on the protection of unaccompanied minors and has been committed to achieving the objectives of the UN Global Plan of Action". The Alternate Minister also pointed out that within the Office of the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for the Identification and Referral of Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings has been operating since 2019. In addition, the Greek Penal Code was updated in 2019 and 2021 to harmonize with European and international standards, while the new Law on Asylum and Refugee Procedures contains provisions for vulnerable persons, including victims of trafficking.
Given that our country has ratified the Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, Mr. Varvitsiotis expressed his dissatisfaction with the withdrawal of some UN, EU and Council member states from this Convention.
November 23, 2021