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sexual slavery

UN Photo/Cia Pak

Make human trafficking “a real priority” urges UN chief

The scourge of human trafficking needs to become “a real priority for international cooperation,” the UN Secretary-General urged on Wednesday.

The plea from António Guterres came as the General Assembly adopted a new Political Declaration to fight trafficking in persons, during a high-level meeting in New York.

The two-day meeting to appraise the UN Global Plan of Action over the issue, heard moving testimony during the opening session, from a victim of human trafficking who said survivors needed to hear the UN was on their side.

Matt Wells reports.

UNICEF/Kate Holt

Rape survivors should never face “prison of stigma”

Survivors of rape or sexual slavery should never again face “the prison of stigma” described by some of them as a “living death”, the acting UN special envoy on sexual violence in conflict, has said.

Adama Dieng, who is also the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, made the appeal to members of the Security Council during an open debate on “Sexual violence in conflict as a tactic of war and terrorism.”

UN Photo

'Film can change the world': The Lid is On, with Gillian Anderson

A “weapon of change” against the global scourge of human trafficking: that’s how the director of the film that’s the focus of our latest podcast, hopes his movie that’s fuelling a movement, will be used.

SOLD is the story of one 13-year-old Nepalese girl’s journey into sexual slavery, and eventual emancipation.

One of the stars of SOLD, Gillian Anderson, the actress best-known for her role in television’s X-Files, says it’s a shining example of how “film can change the world”.

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