The Order of Malta commits itself against trafficking in human beings

The Order of Malta has just appointed two new Ambassadors:

⇒ one in Geneva to monitor and combat trafficking in human beings at the international level (« Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to monitor and combat trafficking in persons ») ;

⇒ the other in Nigeria to coordinate the fight against trafficking in Africa (“Special Representative of the Sovereign Order of Malta and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in Africa”).

The Order’s first priority in this twofold commitment is to assess the situation, identify victims and actors, legal instruments and mechanisms at the international, regional and national levels, to enter into relations with interested and participating Governments and organizations in the struggle against this contemporary form of slavery.

It will then be necessary to examine the most appropriate forms of action for the Order of Malta to prevent and protect victims of trafficking: the Permanent Missions of the Order in New York, Vienna, Strasbourg, Brussels and In Geneva will engage on a multilateral basis; The bilateral ambassadors should take stock of the situation in the 106 countries in which the Order has diplomatic relations; The 120,000 Members, Professionals and Volunteers of the Order in the world will be able to include an approach of prevention of trafficking and protection of its victims in their activities, as well as “Malteser International”.

All these efforts of the Order will be coordinated by the The Grand Magistry in Rome.

• The international diplomatic calendar presents numerous opportunities for networking, exchanging experiences, taking positions, developing action plans and partnerships:

• the preparation of the two Global Pacts on refugees and migrants, which should be accepted in New York in September 2018;
• On 4 and 5 September 2017, the United Nations General Assembly will hold a thematic meeting on trafficking in Vienna, headquarters of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), http://www.unodc.org ) Very active in the fight against trafficking;
• On 27 and 28 September in New York, the United Nations General Assembly is expected to adopt a “Political Declaration” on progress in implementing the Global Plan of Action To Combat Trafficking in Persons “);
• the meeting of the UNHCR Executive Committee from 2 to 6 October in Geneva;
• the thematic discussion on the Global Refugee Pact on 17 and 18 October in Geneva, which will continue on 14 and 15 November;
• the meeting of the IOM Council on 28 and 29 November in Geneva;
• the Mediterranean Dialogue in Rome on 1 and 2 December 2017;
• the UNHCR High Level Dialogue on Protection on 12 and 13 December in Geneva;
• the March 2018 and 2019 sessions of the Human Rights Council in Geneva;
• the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Prevention of Genocide, both adopted on 10 December 1948 in New York;
• the Global Platform for Risk Reduction in Geneva in spring 2019;
• the celebration of the centennial of the ILO in 2019, the legal and institutional framework for the protection of migrant workers and forced labor should be highlighted;
• the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva in November-December 2019, which will be marked by the 70th anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 on the protection of victims of war.

Michel Veuthey

Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to monitor and combat trafficking in persons

Deputy Permanent Observer of the Order of Malta at the U.N. in Geneva
Geneva