Australia thanks the Special Rapporteur for her important work on addressing the gender dimensions of trafficking in persons in the context of climate change, displacement and disaster risk reduction.  

Gender inequalities influence a person’s risk of being trafficked and exploited. Understanding and addressing the linkages between gender inequalities and trafficking in persons is crucial for effective, timely and survivor-centred responses.  

Collectively and collaboratively, we can combat the contemporary challenges that increase the risks of being trafficked. Mitigating and responding to climate change, displacement and disasters is necessary to reduce the risks. 

Australia recognises that gender and age, and other elements of diversity and difference, must be integrated into our responses to trafficking in persons. For example, Australia has taken steps to integrate gender-transformative approaches to disaster risk reduction programming, which in turn, reduces the risk and vulnerability of women and children to trafficking in the wake of disasters.

We are also committed to providing holistic, gender-responsive, survivor-centred protection and support, and to incorporating the voices of survivors of trafficking to inform our national response.  

We recognise that addressing the root causes of trafficking in persons is essential to effective prevention. This includes funding community-based projects that support anti-trafficking efforts, such as educating and empowering individuals and communities at risk of trafficking.  

Australia’s development program provides significant funding to country programs that reduce poverty and address gender equality, and directly focus on building capacity to address trafficking.  

Australia also has several long-term development investments focused on Southeast Asia, that work with existing regional architecture to build regional resilience and address trafficking and modern slavery.  

Australia is committed to continuing to enhance the region’s response to addressing human trafficking, as co-chair, with Indonesia, of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Human Trafficking and Related Transnational Crime. The Bali Process provides an inclusive, non-binding forum for member governments and organisations to exchange perspectives on regional challenges and responses.

We ask the Special Rapporteur how climate financing can be leveraged to bolster gender-responsive prevention and protection to heightened risks of trafficking in persons arising from climate-related displacement?