On 13 May, for the second year in a row, the UN General Assembly held a thematic debate on human trafficking.
Addressing the Assembly UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that trafficking in weapons, drugs and blood diamonds has long been on the UN agenda, but "now we must add people to that list."
Trafficking is not restricted to Africa, "examples could be drawn from any of a number of countries from Asia, across the Americas, to Europe," stressed Mr. Ban. "Millions are bought and sold like chattel, most of them women and children."Highlighting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUC) has released nearly two dozen children from the integrated armed forces and more 1,300 children have been liberated since January, Mr. Ban said it was possible to stop human trafficking.
He underscored the need for collective action to criminalize human trafficking, prevent victimization by teaching people about their rights, reduce demand, end impunity and protect the victims. "Strong laws. Broad alliances. Concerted action. Zero tolerance" are needed to tackle the traffickers.
He noted that "the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking, known as UN.GIFT, has done invaluable work. Many UN organizations, the NGO community and celebrities are actively raising awareness." And Mr Ban said he had just appointed on 1 May a new Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Ms. Marta Santos Pais.
"But these efforts need greater coherence" Mr Ban stated."We have to take a tougher line against this crime."
"We will achieve nothing without uniting and speaking out. We will achieve nothing by offering fine rhetoric not matched by deeds. Moral outrage is all-too-easy. Real action takes real commitment."
The day before the United Nations anti-crime arm acclaimed American painter Ross Bleckner as Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Human Trafficking. Mr. Bleckner, the first artist to be honoured as a UN Goodwill Ambassador, has been appointed to spearhead the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) "Blue Heart" campaign against human trafficking.
Launched in March, the initiative aims to raise awareness about the millions of victims and rally support to combat this modern form of slavery.
F.U.N was born when a friend asked how he can help the United Nations? "What does the UN need most" he asked? Friends are what the UN needs most, was our answer, and it just happens to spell F.U.N. 
