Visiting UN special rapporteur to assess rights issue of human trafficking

UN Special Rapporteur Siobhán Mullally arrived in Bangladesh today (October 31, 2022) on a 10-day official visit to assess the human rights issue of trafficking in persons.

“I will pay particular attention to the main challenges to ensuring the human rights of victims, and effective prevention of trafficking,” she said in a statement.

A particular concern will be the risks of trafficking in the labour migration context, as well as risks faced by refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons, said Mullally.

Bangladesh is a major labour-sending country, with about 12 million Bangladeshis working abroad. Also, it is a migrant-receiving country, especially for highly-skilled people from India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan employed in the RMG sector. Also, Bangladesh hosts more than a million Rohingyas.

The statement said trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation and concerns in relation to child trafficking for all forms of exploitation will also be examined, as will climate-related displacement and increased risks for those directly affected, particularly women and girls in rural areas, and indigenous peoples.

“Measures to combat impunity for trafficking in persons, and ensure effective investigations, with participation of victims, including through child friendly justice procedures, will be examined,” UN special rapporteur said.

Mullally will travel to Dhaka, Cox's Bazar and Sylhet and meet representatives of government agencies, UN officials, law enforcement bodies, members of civil society organisations and survivors.

She will hold a press conference on November 9 to share her preliminary observations and present a comprehensive report on her visit to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2023.

Irish citizen Mullally was appointed as special rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, by the UN Human Rights Council in July 2020.