Cyprus Special Envoy for Multilateralism Ambassador Andreas Kakouris reaffirmed Cyprus’ ‘unwavering commitment’ to combating human trafficking, addressing on Monday the High-Level Meeting on the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.
Marking the 15th anniversary of the Plan of Action, Kakouris noted that it was ‘a great honor for Cyprus, along with Tajikistan, to co-facilitate’ the process leading to the 2025 Political Declaration, which he said ‘reiterates our collective commitment to combat trafficking in all its forms.’
Kakouris stressed that Cyprus views trafficking as ‘a grave violation of fundamental human rights, and an affront to our shared values,’ calling it ‘a heinous crime transcending borders’ and expressing that the country is ‘seriously alarmed by the statistics from the UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2024.’
Drawing from national experience, he emphasized Cyprus’ shift toward ‘a comprehensive and victim-centered approach,’ highlighting legislative reforms that ‘criminalize all forms of trafficking in persons’ and strengthen protection frameworks. He pointed specifically to the amendment criminalizing the creation of child sexual abuse material through artificial intelligence, introduced because ‘technology is being weaponized for exploitation and victimization of children.’
He also underlined Cyprus’ 2023-2026 strategy on human trafficking, including a National Action Plan with ’38 actions, constantly evaluated by the Multidisciplinary Coordinating Group.’
Concluding, ambassador Kakouris urged that ‘human dignity is non-negotiable’ and called on states to ‘protect victims, prosecute perpetrators, and strengthen partnerships’ across governments, the UN system, civil society, and the private sector. Cyprus, he affirmed, ‘stands ready to continue to actively contribute to our global efforts.’