I would like to congratulate the Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement and the Global Coalition of Women Defending Peace for organizing this timely, relevant and very important initiative. The Athens Round Table Conference on Human Trafficking, which is enlisting the support of the business community in the fight against the trafficking of human beings, is a critical step forward in addressing this serious transnational crime.
The trafficking of human beings by criminal organizations constitutes a grave threat to human dignity and the safety of citizens in all countries and regions of the world. There are few countries unaffected by this phenomenon and I believe it is our collective duty to combat this challenge. To do so effectively, we must establish and organize relationships with all stakeholders including the police, governments, non-governmental organizations, private industries, international organizations and society at large to devise and implement effective strategies to minimize or eradicate all forms of trafficking and exploitation of human beings.
Please be assured that Interpol fully supports this endeavour and I am confident that this Round Table Conference will bring us closer to that goal.