OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS
Traffic in women and girls
Commission on Human Rights resolution 1998/30
The Commission on Human Rights,
Recalling all previous resolutions on the problem of the traffic in women and girls adopted by the
General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights, as well as the Convention for the Suppression of the
Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others,
Reaffirming the provisions adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights, the World Summit for
Social Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women and the Ninth United Nations Congress on the
Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders pertaining to the traffic in women and children,
Acknowledging the work done by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in compiling
information on the scale and complexity of the problem of trafficking, in providing shelter for trafficked women
and children, and in effecting their voluntary repatriation to their countries of origin,
Noting with concern the increasing number of women and girls who are being victimized by traffickers,
and acknowledging that trafficking also victimizes young boys,
Stressing the urgent need to eliminate all forms of sexual violence and trafficking, including for
prostitution, which are violations of the human rights of women and girls and are incompatible with the dignity
and worth of the human person, through the adoption of effective measures nationally, regionally and
internationally,
1.
Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the traffic in women and
girls (A/52/355);
2.
Welcomes national, regional and international efforts to implement the recommendations of the
World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, and calls upon Governments to take
further measures in that regard;
3.
Calls upon Governments to criminalize trafficking in women and girls in all its forms, to
condemn and penalize all the offenders involved, including intermediaries, whether their offence was committed
in their own or in a foreign country, while ensuring that the victims of those practices are not penalized, and to
penalize persons in authority found guilty of sexually assaulting victims of trafficking in their custody;
4.
Also calls upon Governments of countries of origin, transit and destination and appropriate
regional and international organizations to implement the Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference
on Women by:
(a)
Considering the ratification and enforcement of international conventions on trafficking in
persons and on slavery;
(b)
Taking appropriate measures to address the root factors, including external factors, that
encourage trafficking in women and girls for prostitution and other forms of commercial sex, and strengthening
existing legislation with a view to providing better protection of the rights of women and girls and punishing the
perpetrators through criminal and civil measures;
(c)
Increasing cooperation and concerted action by all relevant law enforcement authorities and
institutions with a view to dismantling national, regional and international networks in trafficking;
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