UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons Siobhan Mullally has called for greater accountability and said urgent action is necessary to prevent trafficking in Bangladesh.

She called on Bangladesh to step up efforts to prevent trafficking in persons, especially for purposes of sexual exploitation, child marriage, and forced labour, and urged authorities to improve rights and protection for victims who were at grave risk, reports UNB.

“Child trafficking is a significant risk, which must be addressed through expanded child protection and increased efforts at birth registration. No community should be left behind,” she said.

Mullally met with a range of survivors and victims of trafficking during her visit, including those who had been trafficked for sexual and labour exploitation, domestic servitude, child and forced marriage.

Her visit took her to Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar, and to refugee camps hosting almost 1 million Rohingya refugees, and to the city of Sylhet.

She also visited shelter homes for children at risk and victims of trafficking.

Mullally said, “More efforts to combat child trafficking is essential, including by improving rates of birth registration for all communities and ending child marriage. We know that the children of sex workers are at great risk, and are often not registered at birth.”   

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul