Diaspora Affairs Engagement

KENYA REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT UN FORUM IN VIENNA

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Monday, October 13, 2025(AUSTRIA) – The Government of Kenya, in a move to bolster the global fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling, has pledged to strengthen its international cooperation and legal frameworks to protect its citizens at home and abroad.

The commitment was central to Kenya's participation in the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Working Group meetings on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, held recently in Vienna, Austria.

The Kenyan delegation was led by Principal Secretary for the State Department of Justice, Hon. Judith Pareno who was the Head of Delegation and included Mr. Glenns Etyang, Deputy Director at the State Department for Diaspora Affairs. Mr. Etyang's presence underscored the government's focus on safeguarding the rights and welfare of the vast Kenyan diaspora community.

Discussions at the high-level forum centered on strategies to combat these transnational crimes by enhancing legal instruments, fostering effective regional and international collaboration, and ensuring a coordinated response aligned with the UN Protocols against human trafficking and smuggling.

Kenya specifically reaffirmed its dedication to the two protocols that supplement the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. This renewed commitment comes as the nation confronts a rise in sophisticated trafficking schemes including online scamming and fake jobs.

The State Department for Diaspora Affairs emphasized that its involvement in such global dialogues is a core part of its mandate to champion the protection of rights and welfare of Kenyans overseas. By working through international bodies like the UNODC, Kenya aims to build a more robust defense system against trafficking networks and ensure the safety and dignity of its citizens worldwide.