News Center- The United Nations special rapporteur on trafficking in persons, Siobhán Mullally held a press conference after concluding her 10-day visit in Bangladesh. She called on Bangladesh to step up efforts to prevent trafficking in persons, especially for purposes of sexual exploitation, child marriage, and forced labor, and urged authorities to improve rights and protection for victims.

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

“Urgent action is necessary”

At the press conference on Wednesday (October 9), Siobhán Mullally called for greater accountability and said urgent action was necessary to prevent trafficking, and ensure assistance and protection without discrimination.

“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. More efforts to combat child trafficking is essential, including by 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,” she said at the conference.

She noted that climate change was particularly affecting coastal areas and driving increased displacement and migration to urban centers, and loss of livelihoods. “This creates increased risks of exploitation, as children and families move, without protection, livelihoods or shelter,” she said.