Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime

Adopted by the UN General Assembly on November 15, 2000, the Trafficking Protocol came into force on December 25, 2003 to supplement the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime. The aim of the Protocol is to prevent and combat trafficking, and protect and assist trafficked persons. While it applies equally to men and women, the title and preamble recognize that women and children are particularly vulnerable to this crime. While older laws conflate trafficking with the exploitation of human beings, the Protocol specifically addresses the activity of trafficking in itself. The Protocol is also notable for establishing a comprehensive and up-to-date definition of trafficking. [Descriptors: Migration - Trafficking, International]