Human Rights Council 63rd Session
Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery and trafficking in persons.
Statement delivered by Iceland on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic States Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden
11.09.2026
President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic States.
We welcome the establishment of this mandate, combining two previous and interlinked mandates into one, and thank the Special Rapporteur for her latest report to the council which provides important insights into contemporary forms of slavery and trafficking.
The fight against trafficking and contemporary forms of slavery requires a global response. We continue to advocate for a coherent, multidimensional and multi-actor action across all levels.
While we recognise the progress and the hard-won gains, including the promising efforts to combating slavery and trafficking in value chains, the rising tide of interconnected global challenges that contribute to contemporary slavery and trafficking are concerning, including conflict, climate change, displacement and rapid developments in emerging technologies.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the digital environment and its transnational nature present new challenges in the fight against contemporary forms of slavery and trafficking in persons. At the same time, digital technologies can strengthen prevention and detection of these violations.
Madame Special Rapporteur,
What are the most important factors that States should consider when regulating their digital environment, with the aim of preventing and combating contemporary forms of slavery in its and trafficking in persons?
I thank you.