Kari Johnstone
Senior Official, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
New York, New York
November 22, 2021
AS DELIVERED
Good morning. Thank you Mr. President.
The United States welcomes the adoption of this Political Declaration. We have long been committed to preventing and combatting trafficking in persons and advocating for survivors.
The United States affirms our commitment to protect the privacy and identity of victims of trafficking in persons before, during and after criminal proceedings, subject to our national laws, rules and regulations, including protection of the rights of criminal defendants under the United States Constitution.
The United States supports fully and effectively implementing obligations under the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, including the provisions on assistance for and protection of victims of trafficking.
There is no obligation to implement non-mandatory provisions, and the United States does not view the language in the Political Declaration as amending or expanding its obligations under either instrument. Nevertheless, the United States will continue to act in accordance with its obligations to prevent and combat transnational organized crime and trafficking in persons.
Thank you.
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