On Tuesday, May 14, students from the Service & Action (SA) and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) programmes at VIS had the profound opportunity to participate in a significant side event at the United Nations. This event was part of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and focused on human trafficking, a crucial issue that our students have been passionately advocating against through their ongoing partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking.
The event was marked by the presence of five newly appointed board members by the UN Secretary-General, including the Head of the Board, Victoria Nyanjura, and Academy Award-winning actress Mira Sorvino. Throughout the day, our students were exposed to a variety of presentations from Civil Society Organisations, providing vital support and services to survivors of human trafficking in countries such as Ukraine, Thailand, and Bolivia. The students gained a deeper understanding of the global efforts being made to combat human trafficking and support its victims.
A highlight of the event was the selection of our students to deliver the closing remarks. In addition to their speech, the students also created a series of signs to visually convey their messages of support to the survivors.
As a result of their participation, the UNODC has produced a video featuring our students, highlighting their contributions and the importance of youth advocacy in global issues. For more information on the UNODC Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking, please visit the UNODC VTF website.
Together, we can make a difference. Let's continue to support and advocate for the victims of human trafficking.