MOSCOW, October 18 (RIA Novosti) - United Nations human rights experts have called on the international community Saturday to fight transnational human trafficking.
"States' authorities must ensure that victims of trafficking, irregular migrants or asylum seekers in an irregular situation are not treated as criminals. Victims of trafficking must enjoy their human rights, while the principle of non-refoulement of asylum seekers has to be respected," the statement issued by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reads.
According to the statement, human trafficking is "a grave violation of human rights", yet it has not been eradicated, as to fight this issue the international community should coordinate efforts and address trafficking causes across multiple sectors.
"We urge all Governments to adopt a universal human rights-based approach to end human trafficking in the world today and to protect those most vulnerable to these abhorrent practices now," the UN experts say.
The statement was prepared by the UN Special Rapporteurs on trafficking, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, contemporary forms of slavery, Urmila Bhoola, sale and sexual exploitation of children, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, and migrants, Francois Crepeau.
The statement was issued on the yearly European Anti-Trafficking Day, dedicated to the response to trafficking in human beings in Europe.
