UN expert calls on to protect victims of trafficking, especially within country

A UN human rights expert on Wednesday called on Bangladesh to step up efforts to prevent trafficking in persons, especially for purposes of sexual exploitation, child marriage, and forced labour and urged authorities to improve rights and protection for victims.

Concluding a 10-day visit in the country, UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons Siobhán Mullally called for greater accountability and said urgent action was necessary to prevent trafficking, and ensure assistance and protection without discrimination, reads a press release.

"Child trafficking is a significant risk, which must be addressed through expanded child protection and increased efforts at birth registration. No community should be left behind," the UN expert said in a statement following her visit.

She urged authorities in Bangladesh to step up efforts to prevent trafficking, particularly for the sexual exploitation of persons of diverse gender identities who were at grave risk.

Mullally met with a range of survivors and victims of trafficking during her visit, including those who had been trafficked for sexual and labour exploitation, domestic servitude, and child and forced marriage.

Mullally's visit took her to Dhaka and Cox's Bazaar, to refugee camps hosting almost one million Rohingya refugees, and to the city of Sylhet. She also visited shelter homes for children at risk and victims of trafficking.

"More efforts to combat child trafficking are essential, including improving rates of birth registration for all communities and ending child marriage. We know that the children of sex workers are at great risk, and are often not registered at birth," Mullally said.

The Special Rapporteur said it was important to expand safe and regular migration opportunities, particularly for women migrants. 

"More efforts are needed to regulate and hold accountable recruitment agencies and intermediaries who exploit migrant workers in vulnerable situations through high recruitment fees and deceptive job offers," Mullally said. 

"Migrant women domestic workers are particularly at risk of trafficking for domestic servitude and suffer horrific abuses due to many gaps in protection and enforcement of workers' rights," she said.

The expert noted that climate change was particularly affecting coastal areas and driving increased displacement and migration to urban centres, and loss of livelihoods. 

"This creates increased risks of exploitation, as children and families move, without protection, livelihoods or shelter," she said.

Mullally commended Bangladesh for hosting nearly one million Rohingya refugees at a time when many countries were closing their borders to people in need of protection and called for more international support to help authorities to ensure their safety and well-being.

"The situation in the camps, with no access to employment or formal education and training, and restrictions on movement, had led to increased frustration and risks of exploitation, including through trafficking for purposes of child marriage, sexual exploitation and forced labour," the Special Rapporteur said.

"For Rohingya refugees who are victims of trafficking, the capacity to provide assistance and protection within the camps is limited and must be expanded. Access to durable solutions must be provided, including expanded opportunities for resettlement, and voluntary repatriation following international law," she added.