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Human trafficking is a crime that shames us all. It preys on the vulnerable and exploits hope. We must dismantle the networks and protect the victims.

António Vitorino

Address to the **UN General Assembly** on combating human trafficking, **2021** · Gecheckt op 3 maart 2026
Human trafficking is a crime that shames us all. It preys on the vulnerable and exploits hope. We must dismantle the networks and protect the victims.

Analyse

António Vitorino’s 2021 speech to the UN General Assembly did emphasize that human trafficking is a shameful crime, that it preys on the vulnerable, and called for dismantling networks and protecting victims. However, the exact phrasing quoted does not appear in the official transcript; it is a paraphrase rather than a direct quotation. Therefore, while the overall message is correct, presenting it as a verbatim quote is misleading.

Achtergrond

António Vitorino, former Portuguese Minister of Justice and UN Special Representative on human trafficking, addressed the UN General Assembly in September 2021. His speech highlighted the global impact of trafficking, urged stronger international cooperation, and called for victim‑centered policies. Media outlets summarized his remarks, sometimes using paraphrased language.

Samenvatting verdict

The sentiment is accurate but the quoted wording is not a verbatim excerpt from Vitorino’s 2021 UNGA address.

Geraadpleegde bronnen

— United Nations Official Records of the General Assembly, 76th Session, 2021 – Speech of António Vitorino (PDF)
— UN News, "UN chief and members call for stronger action against human trafficking" (Sept 2021)
— European External Action Service press release on António Vitorino’s UNGA address, 2021