The 11th INTERPOL Global Conference on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling took place at INTERPOL Headquarters in Lyon, France on 21 – 23 November 2023. As part of the panel on cross-sector collaboration, Marie-Hélène Bonneau, Head of the Security Division, and Laura Petersen, Senior Security Research Advisor, presented the UIC Security Platform and how, through continued collaboration with INTERPOL, the rail sector could contribute to the fight against trafficking in human beings.
During the conference, law enforcement, prosecutors, academics, technology companies, civil society organisations, transportation stakeholders and other, relevant actors all came together to enhance protection from and dismantle the criminal groups responsible for human trafficking and migrant smuggling around the world. Cooperation and unity were at the heart of the conference, as they are key to confronting this continuously growing and evolving crime area.
Cooperation between UIC and INTERPOL began during the 18th UIC World Security Congress. Following which, the UIC Security Division joined the INTERPOL Human Trafficking Expert Group (HTEG). The 11th INTERPOL Global Conference on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling was the UIC Security Division’s first contribution to HTEG. UIC looks forward to continued cooperation, which should facilitate the rail sector’s involvement in the fight against trafficking in human beings.
