Blue Heart Campaign
Logo of the Blue Heart Campaign
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| Motto | Against Human Trafficking |
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| Purpose | Anti-trafficking |
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Parent organization
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United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |
| Website | www |
The Blue Heart Campaign is an international anti-trafficking program started by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Established in 1997, the UNODC supported countries in implementing three UN drug protocols. In 2000, after the UN General Assembly adopted the , the UNODC became the “guardian” of that protocol and assumed the functions of fighting against human trafficking. The Blue Heart Campaign was launched in March 2009 by the Executive Director of the UNODC, Antonio Maria Costa, during his address to the World’s Women’s Conference meeting in Vienna. The campaign’s symbol is a blue heart that signifies the sadness of those who are trafficked while reminding the world of the cold-heartedness of those who buy, sell and traffic human beings.
The campaign uses information and communication technology (ICT) to educate people about trafficking issues and impact, to engage in dialogue with others concerned about this issue, and to show solidarity with the victims of human trafficking by wearing the Blue Heart. The Blue Heart Campaign uses its website, as well as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr to communicate goals, objectives, and news with the public.
The UNODC assists states through the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) to implement the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons. This protocol was entered into force on 25 December, 2003. It is the first global legally binding instrument with an agreed definition on trafficking in persons. The intention behind this definition is to facilitate convergence in national approaches with regard to the establishment of domestic criminal offenses that would support efficient international cooperation in investigating and prosecuting trafficking in persons cases. An additional objective of the protocol is to protect and assist the victims of trafficking in persons with full respect for their human rights. This protocol states that while there are rules and measures to combat the exploitation of persons, there is no universal instrument to combat all aspects of trafficking in persons. The protocol has 20 articles and defines “trafficking in persons” as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. The protocol includes legislative provisions and protection, prevention and cooperation measures. The UNTOC represents a major step forward in the fight against transnational organized crime and signifies the recognition by Member States of the seriousness of human trafficking. To date, more than 147 countries have ratified and signed the protocol. However, according to the UNODC, "very few criminals are being brought to justice and most victims are never identified or assisted.
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