Speech by the President of the Government during the debate at the United Nations Security Council on people trafficking in conflict situations

New York

I would like to start my speech by expressing my sincerest gratitude for their attendance and participation in this debate to the Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon; the Executive Director of UNODC, Mr Yury Fedotov; the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms Zainab Bangura; and Ms Ameena Saeed Hasan and Ms Nadia Murad.

This session is particularly important for Spain, not only due to the relevance of the topic but also because it is the last debate that my country is organising as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.

Besides being a clear aggression against human dignity, people trafficking also represents a threat to international peace and security in conflict situations and in certain contexts of terrorism. It represents the very reincarnation of slavery well into the 21st Century.

Leaders from all over the world and representatives of civil society have underlined the moral imperative to combat people trafficking and all contemporary forms of slavery. As already stated here, the victims - mostly women and children - require an urgent response, especially from this Security Council.

Today, my country is proposing a paradigm shift: recognition that national legal systems can crack during conflict situations and that, under such circumstances, there is a need for action by the Security Council. Hence our proposal for the first resolution in the history of the Security Council on this tragic phenomenon.

With this debate, we are encouraging in-depth reflection on what the Security Council can bring to the table in order to denounce people trafficking in conflict situations and the situations of exploitation it leads to. We are also proposing that we explore ways to strengthen the regulatory framework in terms of sanctions, financial flows, protection and support for the victims; and that we draw up a more effective strategy in the fight against people trafficking in conflict situations.

The UN response to this scourge continues to be fragmented. Its eradication will require efforts beyond the scope of one region or specific country, or that of a single UN agency or department. It requires an effort from everyone, including this Security Council.

Regrettably, the connection between conflict and people trafficking is not new. What is indeed new, however, is its use as a "tactic of terrorism" and "war economy" by such groups as DAESH, Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram.

We have just heard the chilling tale of one brave survivor and now staunch defender of the rights of the Yazidis in Iraq, Nadia Murad, recipient of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought; as well as that of someone who personally risks her life in the rescue of many of these people, Amena Saeed Hasan. Both of them, as well as Ms Bangura, have told us how DAESH openly promotes people trafficking and the slavery of women and children, thereby ignoring the most fundamental aspects of international law.

However, people trafficking in conflict situations is not merely limited to the realms of terrorism. The conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Libya and the Sahel, to mention but a few, are leading to the massive displacement of people who are especially vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking networks.

As is the case in many of your countries, a new Comprehensive Plan to Combat Human Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation Purposes was approved last year in Spain and, this year, my government has strengthened coordination between civilian organisations and State law enforcement agencies in this regard.

Furthermore, within the framework of developing the National Strategic Plan on Combating Violent Radicalisation, my country has designed an online communication strategy that includes a counter-narrative against the phenomenon of radicalisation. In this regard, monitoring the social media networks is essential in order to prevent and be aware of the radical content that could be fostering people trafficking.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The next five years represent an historic opportunity to position the fight against the worst forms of exploitation as a core priority for the United Nations. Even though important progress has indeed been made in certain areas, there is still a great more work to be done. In this regard, I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his efforts in the fight against sexual exploitation and abuse, and his "zero tolerance" policy against the sexual violence in a number of cases involving peacekeepers.

I would like to conclude by stating that my country will firmly support all efforts aimed at ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice and serve out their sentences. Let us work more closely to achieve that goal. That is my request to all of you here today.

Thank you very much.