Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, Spouse of President Mubarak, on Sunday21/5 /2006 called for mobilizing international efforts to fight and eradicate human trafficking.

Addressing the Human Trafficking Panel, meeting on the " sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Mrs. Mubarak, who is the Chairperson of Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement, said:

" I would like to welcome you and thank all of you for participating in this event, your presence testifies  your commitment to addressing one of the darkest issues of today - human trafficking -a crime against humanity and one of the most appalling illicit businesses.

"It is hard to admit that there are approximately two million people, mainly women and children, trafficking every year for a profit of $ 32 billion and it is a well known fact that as long as the profits are high, the laws are lacking or not enforced, and the awareness is missing -this kind of slavery will continue to flourish.

"However, all these involved in the illicit business of human trafficking have now good reason to be worried.

Hardly a day goes by without this deplorable trade being denounced and more and more is now being done by a multitude of agencies, organizations, governments and other actors.

Our movement has also launched "the end of Human Trafficking now" campaign in which the business community has taken a firm stance by proclaiming zero tolerance for traffickers.

They have adopted a set of ethical principles in order to gradually put those who traffic human beings out of the business forever.

"What are the issues we should focus on now first of all, awareness-raising.

"Traffickers are skillfully misusing human aspirations for better lives, hopes and dreams. They fill a space in the human psyche with an illusion that later becomes a ticket to imaginable misery and suffering.

Traffickers, astute as they are, have made use of the very positive aspects of globalization to expand the scope of their activities -hi-tech communication, swift transport facilities, fluid borders, ease of money transactions, etc. This is what makes their business profitable.

Contrary to children who are taught that if they put their hands in the fire they will get burnt -for they can see the obvious danger. Women and children who are tricked do not understand that other human beings can be capable of such treachery.

For many friends, it is not the boss of the illicit enterprise that recruits, it is trusted friends and community members very often women themselves who do the recruiting at the community and family level.

We have enough stories to share; we have enough examples to serve as a warning. By raising awareness, we will not only foil the plans of traffickers but more importantly, prevent millions of susceptible lives from being ruined.

There is much we can do if we can take it as our collective responsibility.

Journalists should continue to denounce this, authors should carry on writing about it, lawyers should defend the victims, security officers must put a check to it, states must consider this their priority and put preventive and protection measures into place among other things.

Secondly, laws and law-enforcement. We have to consider our laws and strengthen their implementation. This is not only to make sure that human trafficking is criminal with adequate penalties but also to ensure that the entire legal system is on the side of victims.

Without victim-friendly criminal justice, there cannot be truly successful prosecution of traffickers.
Similarly, labour and administrative laws should enable victims to restore their lives.

International cooperation of law enforcement has to be strengthened as this is a gap often used by traffickers moving from one jurisdiction to another. If we reshape our legal frameworks and enforce them properly, we could than reduce the chances of traffickers to succeed.

"Thirdly, partnership, especially with business sector. Human trafficking cannot eradicate by a single actor but only in partnership with governments, international organizations, civil society and certainly, the business sector.

The End of Human Trafficking now Campaign developed in partnership with the corporate sector is essential if we are to succeed in the global campaign against human trafficking.

The adoption of the Athens Ethical Principles against Human Trafficking by corporations is a major accomplishment in this direction.

Our campaign has had promising start. Our business partners dedicate to this campaign are committed to obtain shortly 1000 signatories to the Ethical Principles by corporate leaders; awareness campaigns are well on their way, and every opportunity is being seized to explain the facts surrounding this terrible phenomenon, enlist support and mobilize actions, help linked to shelters are being established, especially when' major events, such as the upcoming World Cup for Football which will be held in both Germany and Switzerland are planned and trafficking of women is now to be on their radar screen (40,000 prostitutes are being imported out of which a substantial amount are trafficked).

We are also co-sponsoring international events in other regions in (summit in Hong Kong, International Conference on Security in Zurich both in October 2006) to ensure that our message spreads throughout the world.

I am heartened to discover how many people and organizations have been joining us and offering their support and expertise to our campaign. Just look at this esteemed panel!

I am pleased to welcome old friends and great new faces. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the World Economic Forum for giving us the opportunity, in Davos and now here, to share with you our thoughts and benefit from your advice on how to move beyond Athens.

I am sure that as you learn more about this issue, none of us will be able to turn our backs or claim ignorance as a reason for inaction.

Because every hour of our inaction is costing. Someone their dignity, and every day someone's life. So let us together pledge to act and to act now."