GENEVA, Switzerland — 14 September 2026 — The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), together with its anti-trafficking campaign, the World Freedom Network (WFN), and the Salvation Army, presented a joint video statement to the 63rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, calling on States to ensure greater identification and protection of victims of human trafficking.
The address was delivered during the Interactive Dialogue with the newly appointed Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery and trafficking in persons, Ms. Katarina Schwarz.
Delivered by Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham, Director of the WEA Geneva Office, the statement addressed the ongoing global crisis of victim identification. Millions of people worldwide remain trapped in trafficking and exploitation. Some reports estimate that less than one percent of victims are officially identified each year.
“Without identification, victims are beyond the reach of aid, support, or justice,” said Jennifer Tunehag, Global Director of the World Freedom Network. “Identification is the gateway to restoration.”
Because individuals experiencing trafficking frequently come into contact with civil society actors before specialist authorities, the WEA and the Salvation Army called for stronger pathways connecting community-level recognition with formal identification, protection, and remedy.
Specifically, WFN advocated for frameworks such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) “social path” to victim identification. This model empowers civil society and social service providers to officially identify victims, triggering legal obligations for States to provide support, protection, and access to justice.
“Identification is not simply about finding more victims,” the statement noted. “It is about ensuring that people experiencing trafficking can access the rights and protections States have established for them.”
The statement also welcomed the Special Rapporteur to her new mandate and affirmed the global evangelical community’s support for her work.
“We would like to encourage her and to support her work,” Buckingham said. “Human trafficking is an important issue for the WEA, and this interactive dialogue is a crucial opportunity to highlight our position and commitment to action.”
The joint statement commended the Special Rapporteur’s emphasis on engaging grassroots and survivor-led organizations, noting that local actors are often the first to recognize changing realities and systemic failures.
Highlighting the gap between international policy and practical application, the WEA emphasized that connection remains the primary obstacle.
“Our experience is that the gap is often not commitment, but connection”, Buckingham stated in the video address.
The WEA reaffirmed its readiness to partner with UN mechanisms, governments, and civil society organizations to bridge the gap between policy and practice and ensure victims of human trafficking receive full protection and care.
About the World Freedom Network
The World Freedom Network (WFN) is a global initiative commissioned by the World Evangelical Alliance that connects hundreds of faith-based anti-trafficking organizations and local church networks across six global regions. By harnessing the strength of Christian communities worldwide, WFN equips local churches, advocates for systemic policy change—such as expanded victim identification pathways—and fosters collaboration across civil society and UN mechanisms to end human exploitation.
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