AFRICAN GROUP STATEMENT BY H.E. AMBASSADOR EKITELA LOKAALE AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING ON ACTIONS TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING

  Delivered by Mr. Jacob Ondari Head of Chancery/6th Committee on behalf of H.E. Ambassador Ekitela Lokaale Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations & Chair of the African Group for the month of November & December

24th November 2025

Distinguished Delegates,

Excellences,

Chairperson, Mme President,

On behalf of the African Group, we thank you, for convening this important meeting twenty-five years after the adoption by the UN General Assembly, of the Organized Crime Convention and its supplementary Trafficking in Persons Protocol, as well after three phases of the appraisal by the General Assembly of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

We hail efforts towards elimination of trafficking in persons and lessons learnt on the best way to effectively suppress trafficking in persons in the midst of the prevailing challenges including climate change, conflicts and financial crises, that perpetuate the increase of this crime, among others.

Distinguished Delegates,

The African Group takes pride of the UN Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, a universally approved mechanism for coordinating our efforts, nationally, regionally and internationally, the Global Plan of Action against trafficking, acts not only as a coordinating mechanism for all the member states of the United Nations but as a strategic facilitating framework for the international community to work coherently towards preventing and fighting trafficking in persons.

Excellences, we are convinced that this plan remains an important pillar to accelerate progress for the implementation of the existing international instruments; including, “Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, supplementing the 2000 Palermo Convention on organized Crime”, and it fills the gaps existing amongst all instruments, plans and strategies, whether national, regional or international, in a unified, coherent, comprehensive and coordinated manner that would not duplicate the work but consolidate and complement existing efforts to fight national trafficking as well as international trafficking in persons.

Chairperson,

The African Group is concerned about continuing increase in trafficking in persons, especially women and children, a serious threat to human dignity, physical integrity, human rights and fundamental freedoms and sustainable development.

We are of the view that this UN Global Plan of Action against trafficking in persons, is a milestone towards ending victimization, improved prosecuting of perpetrators, prevention and protection of all, from falling into the hands of organized crime; not only that, but it also facilitates compensation to victims and support of national efforts and relevant organizations in their work towards this endeavor.

In this connection, we applaud the United Nations voluntary trust fund for victims of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and we request for its increased funding, furthermore, we are again, pleased of the role the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons plays in line with the UN Global Plan of Action against trafficking in Persons.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The African Group applauds global undertaken preventive measures individually or collectively, including awareness-raising and capacity-building of front-line officers, especially those involved in law enforcement and the delivery of justice including states that carried out initiatives to address the root causes of trafficking in persons, and those that developed academic curricula aimed at addressing trafficking in persons and child sexual exploitation. The use of technology in prevention, including for the monitoring of online platforms and social media, thus enable improved protection of children in the digital sphere is reckoned.

We thank those states that have legislation in place for victim protection, efforts employed to protect and assist trafficked victims, particularly through the increased engagement of survivors as key stakeholders’ provision, established survivor-led councils, temporary accommodation, legal aid, medical and psychological care, vocational training and access to the labour market. We urge for improved efforts regarding reintegration of victims to their family, in this regard.

Mme President, Excellences, Distinguished Delegates,

In concluding, allow me, on behalf of the African Group to reaffirm the Group commitment to

the full and effective implementation by all players in the area of trafficking in persons of the UN Global Plan of Action in Trafficking in Persons.

We thank the UNODC, the civil society organizations including the private sector for their continued support in assisting member states in the fight against trafficking in persons.

Let us join hands and count those who are trafficked in order to establish the road map ahead of us, in eliminating this scourge. It goes without saying, “you don’t count, if you are not counted”.

I Thank you, Mme President.