Trafficking in humans, as defined by the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, is "the recruitment, transportation, transfer or reception of humans by means of threats, force, kidnapping, deception, coercion, abuse of power and payment for the purpose of receiving money or privileges so that one person gains control over another person for subsequent exploitation".  

Trafficking is a growing problem and a crime with devastating consequences involving multi-dimensional problems, encompassing aspects of migration, human rights, gender equality, and transnational organized crime. The United Nations has addressed the issue coordinating international responses to trafficking by adopting instruments against various forms of transnational organized crime: 

The Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others, adopted in 1949, was the first United Nations treaty against trafficking.

Article 8 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted in 1966, and entered into force in 1976, prohibits all forms of slavery, slave-trade and compulsory labour. The Human Rights Committee is a body of independent experts that monitors its implementation.

The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, adopted in 1979 supplements the Convention against Trafficking in Persons. Its monitoring body is the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, CEDAW.

The Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention was adopted by the International Labour Organization in 1999 as Convention no 182.

The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime from 2003, is the first legally binding United Nations treaty to fight organized crime and, as such, it is a powerful global instrument.  

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights has appointed three Special Rapporteurs to examine, monitor and report on trafficking worldwide. This mechanism has now been assumed by the Human Rights Council: 

• Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children 
• Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
• Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

In recent years, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has established several programs and projects to support Member States in their efforts to combat trafficking in human beings. 

See also DagDok: section UNODC.