VIENNA, 20 MAGGIO – Italy in Vienna joined the UN’s Office Blue Heart Campaign, a global awareness initiative raising initiative to fight human trafficking and its impact on society. The Italian Representative to the international organizations Maria Assunta Accili took part in a side-event co-organized during the five-day proceedings of the 28 th session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
Besides Italy, eight other countries – Belarus, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Israel, Romania and Sweden joined the campaign, which works to raise awareness of the plight of victims of human trafficking and build support to fight the criminals behind this crime. The total number of countries part of the initiative is now 26.
UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov said that “The Blue Heart is a powerful symbol reminding people that we all have a role, and indeed a responsibility, in preventing and combatting human trafficking. My heartfelt thanks go to the many Blue Heart supporters and Trust Fund donors.”
During the event, Dr. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Chair of the Trust Fund Board of Trustees, presented the achievements of the Trust Fund for victims and highlighted the fact that the Trust Fund has provided USD 3.4 million in grants to 59 specialized NGOs worldwide and directly assists approximately 3,500 victims per year in over 40 countries. Dr. Ferrero-Waldner noted that at least 90 percent of Trust Fund projects over the last years supported women and girls victims trafficked mainly for sexual exploitation.
NGOs from Freedom Foundation and CISS shared good practices from Nigeria and Italy respectively in providing direct assistance to victims of trafficking, with the aim of helping survivors rebuild their lives.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) launched the Blue heart Campaign in 2008 to encourage involvement from governments, civil society, the corporate sector and individuals alike, to inspire action and help prevent human trafficking. The Blue Heart is increasingly recognized as the international symbol against human trafficking, representing the sadness of those who are trafficked while reminding us of the cold-heartedness of those who buy and sell fellow human beings.
All donations to the Campaign go to the Trust Fund which provides humanitarian, legal and financial aid to trafficking victims through specialized organizations across the globe, including governmental and non-governmental organizations. It is the only UN Trust Fund with a specific focus on women and girl victims of trafficking worldwide.
The Campaign seeks to encourage involvement from governments, civil society, the corporate sector and individuals alike, to inspire action and help prevent this heinous crime. The Blue Heart is increasingly recognized as the international symbol against human trafficking, representing the sadness of those who are trafficked while reminding us of the cold-heartedness of those who buy and sell fellow human beings. The campaign allows people to show their solidarity with the victims of human trafficking and increasing their visibility by wearing the Blue Heart. (@OnuItalia)
