UNODC is a global leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime.

Established
in 1997 through a merger between the United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Centre
for International Crime Prevention
UNODC has released a new Menu of Services published in October 2010, which provides a
detailed overview of how clients can access targeted assistance. UNODC can help in the
following areas:
Corruption
Crime prevention and criminal justice reform to guarantee that the accused, the guilty and
the victims can all rely on a criminal justice system that is fair and grounded on human rights
values.
Drug abuse prevention and health to see drug use as a health problem, not a crime.
Terrorism prevention
Organized crime and trafficking UNODC helps Governments react to the instability and
insecurity caused by crimes like the smuggling of illicit drugs, weapons, natural resources,
counterfeit goods and human beings between countries and continents. It is also addressing
emerging forms of crime, such as cybercrime, trafficking in cultural artefacts and
environmental crime.

The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, adopted

by General Assembly resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000, is the main international
instrument in the fight against transnational organized crime. It opened for signature by
Member States a t a High-level Political Conference convened for that purpose in Palermo,
Italy, on 12-15 December 2000 and entered into force on 29 September 2003. The Convention
is further supplemented by three Protocols, which target specific areas and manifestations of
org anized crime: the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons,
Especially Women and Children; the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea
and Air; and the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their
Parts and Components and Ammunition. Countries must become parties to the Convention
itself before they can become parties to any of the Protocols.

The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women
and Children, was adopted by General Assembly resolution 55/25. It entered into force on 25
December 2003. It is the first global legally binding instrument with an agreed definition on
trafficking in persons. The intention behind this definition is to facilitate convergence in
national approaches with regard to the establishment of domestic criminal offences that would
support efficient international cooperation in investigating and prosecuting trafficking in
persons cases. An additional objective of the Protocol is to protect and assist the victims of
trafficking in persons with full respect for their human rights.

Despite the existence of a variety of international instruments containing rules and practical
measures to combat the exploitation of persons, especially women and children, there is no
universal instrument that addresses all aspects of trafficking in persons.
In the absence of such an instrument, persons who are vulnerable to trafficking will not be
sufficiently protected.

This Protocol supplements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized
Crime. It shall be interpreted together with the Convention.

Purposes are to prevent, protect, and promote cooperation among States parties.
Article 6 mandates that States must have implementing measures to provide for the physical,
psychological and social recovery of victims such as appropriate housing; counselling and
information, in particular as regards their legal rights, in a language that the victims of
trafficking in persons can understand; medical, psychological and material assistance; and
employment, educational and training opportunities.

Article 8 repatriation of victims

Article 10
States Parties shall provide or strengthen training for law enforcement, immigration and other
relevant officials in the prevention of trafficking in persons. The training should focus on the
purposes of the Protocol.

Border measures
Each State Party shall adopt legislative or other appropriate measures to prevent, to the extent
possible, means of transport operated by commercial carriers from being used in the
commission of offences established in accordance with article 5 of this Protocol.
It includes ascertainment that all passengers are in possession of the travel documents required
for entry into the receiving State.

Virtually every country in the world is affected by these crimes. The challenge for all countries,
rich and poor, is to target the criminals who exploit desperate people and to protect and assist
victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants, many of whom endure unimaginable hardships
in their bid for a better life.