The first Global Forum against trafficking
The Forum held in Vienna in February 2008 with the participation of representatives of governmental and non governmental organisations, civil society, business community, activists, and experts of every associated field. The President of the "Foundation for the Child and the Family", Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis was also invited in the Forum. She was one of the pioneers of the campaign "End Human Trafficking Now", which was launched in Athens in January 2006 along with the round table "Business Community against the Trafficking of Human Beings".
The Vienna Forum was organised by the UN.GIFT (United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking) founded in order to organise and promote the international campaign against human trafficking.The idea that led to the establishment of UN.GIFT is based on the fact that trafficking constitutes a universal phenomenon and those involved in it, both victims and perpetrators, act in various countries simultaneously. Consequently no government and no organisation can effectively confront trafficking on their own. Confronting and repressing this dreadful crime requires international collaboration, collectiveness, co-ordination as well as universal mobilisation and action.
Ricky Martin and Antonio Maria Costa,
UN.GIFT was founded in March 2007 and so far, it has succeeded so that the protocol of prevention, repression and punishment of trafficking is signed by 117 countries, while many others are already in the process of signing. Since its establishment, it functions in close collaboration with many large international organisations, such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), etc. At the same time it is collaborates with governments, enterprises and experts, civil society organisations and mass media, in order to support each other’s action and to create new alliances and new practical measures to prevent trafficking. The strategy of UN.GIFT is based on three fundamental axes:
- To raise awareness of the public opinion on the problem, which is still low. This fact makes the potential victims of trafficking more vulnerable.
- To spread the information concerning all forms and dimensions of the phenomenon –data, reports, incidents, methods and traffickers traps, statistics, etc– to such a point that all those activated against trafficking have access to the existing files.
- To provide technical support in order to create practices and methods through which, on the one hand, human trafficking could be anticipated and the victims of trafficking could be protected and on the other hand the criminals will be punished. This includes enacting laws against trafficking, the reinforcement of those groups which help the victims, and the application of policies that sensitise the common opinion and repression of the phenomenon. UN.GIFT emphasises the collaboration among the various social groups that have been recruited against human trafficking, as it is of particular importance that these groups act jointly and exchange experience, data and practices, in national as well as international level.
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H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak.
At the beginning of the Vienna Forum, Mr. Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime pointed out:
- Trafficking victims are estimated about 2 to 4 millions per year.
- This inhuman trade makes a profit of many billion dollars.
- Trafficking victims, mainly women and children, are completely deprived of their freedom and dignity, suffering all forms of exploitation such as forced labour and slavery, sexual exploitation, removal of organs, etc.
Fortunately, there is also a positive element in this gloomy atmosphere: up to now 1,5 million people have, in written, declared their decision to fight for the elimination of this horrible crime against humanity!
Emma Thomson and Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
At the plenary session of the Forum, the First Lady of Egypt, H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, the Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Mrs. Ursula Plassnik, Mr. Ricky Martin, President of the Martin Foundation and Mrs Emma Thomson, President of the Helen Bamber Foundation, addressed the public. Speeches by the First Lady of the Dominican Republic, H.E. Mrs. Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez as well as by many representatives of various countries also followed.
The speakers analysed in depth the phenomenon of trafficking, focusing on the three components of the problem:
- The reasons causing it.
- The impact in the global social web.
- The actions required in order to fight and eliminate it.
Inter alia, the delegates analysed the strategies and measures that should be taken for the elimination of trafficking and pointed out the important role of women, mainly the women who are in key positions and have knowledge, experience, power and strength.
Women's Leadership Council
Julia Ormond and Marianna V. Vardinoyannis
The establishment of Women's Leadership Council was announced during the Forum, constituted by women, recognised as leaders in their fields, aiming at the reinforcement of the UN.GIFT action, and will provide high level ideas and experience concerning women issues and human rights.
The objectives of Women's Leadership Council are the following:
- To demonstrate the importance of the role of women in the fight against human trafficking, mainly in the elimination of every form of abuse and exploitation of women and children.
- To create a network for the mobilisation and co-ordination of those institutions which have the knowledge, experience and means for the elimination of trafficking.
- To aid the institutions which locate, impede, and punish the traffickers who exploit women and children, both providing material support as well as human resources.
- The members of Women's Leadership Council are women from all over the world, representatives of governments, international organisations, social institutions, mass media, heads of non governmental organisations, academics, artists, activists and generally women who act in the humanitarian field, more specifically in the campaign against trafficking.
The founding members of Women's Leadership Council are:
H.E. Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of Egypt and President of “The Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement; Dr Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez, First Lady of the Dominican Republic”; Mrs. Maria Palacio, former First Lady of Ecuador; Mrs. Renuka Chowdhury, Minister for Woman and Child Development in India; Ambassador Margarita Escobar, Deputy Minister for Salvadoreans Abroad (Ministry of Foreign Affairs);
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Ricky Martin and Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
Mrs. Maud de Boer Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe; Baroness Mary Teresa Goudie, Member of House of Lords of Great Britain; Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and member of the Board of Directors of “The Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement”; Mrs. Melanne Verveer, Founder and Chair of the Board of the Vital Voices Global Partnership; Mrs. Eva Biaudet, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings; Dr Aleya Hammad, Member of Board of Directors of “The Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement”; Mrs. Margaret Alva, General Secretary of Indian National Congress; Dr Helen Bamber OBE, Founding Member of Amnesty International and The Helen Bamber Foundation; Mrs. Katie Ford, Board of Directors and Former CEO of Ford Models; Mrs. Louise Therese Blouin MacBain, CEO and President of LTB Group and Founder and Chair of the “Louise T. Blouin Foundation”; Mrs. Emma Thompson, Academy Award Winning Actress and Chair of The Helen Bamber Foundation; Mrs. Julia Ormond, Actress and UNODC Goodwill Ambassador; Mrs. Ruslana Lyzhychko, Eurovision Contest Winner and Former Member of Parliament, Ukraine; Mrs. Sabrine El Hossamy, PR & Communication Director at Orascom Telecom, and others.
- 2011
- UNESCO Heads of States Forum
- There is HOPE!
- Cultural Heritage - Climate Change - The teacher's role - Presentation of the book "The country of two suns"
- International Women's Day - The Educational Institute AKMI IVT honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- The "Pancretan Association of Athens" honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Woman of the year 2011".
- Excellence Awards, Greeks who are Role Models for the New Generation.
- Presentation of the Greek publication of Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis' book "Labouring with the Challenges of Female Identity: Insights into Minoan Society".
- 2010
- Presentation of the book "Labouring with the challenges of female identity: Insights into the Minoan society" at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
- The Global Forum against human trafficking.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis - ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit.
- Makistos smiles again!
- 83000 signatures for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- 10th Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors
- An event for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- International campaign supporting Greece.
- The international "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- First meeting of the Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre.
- 2009
- Global Campaign for the Climate Justice.
- Inauguration of the new Acropolis Museum.
- Declaration of the International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference «Crossing Borders to Protect the Children of the World» and the Cairo Declaration.
- International Conference in Bahrain "Human Trafficking at the Crossroads of East- West" and the Manama Declaration.
- Summer Deaflympics - Athens 2013.
- 2008
- The Vienna Forum against human trafficking.
- Mothers - Olympic Champions of Love.
- Universal call for the Climate Change.
- The 4th Global Youth Employment Summit on the fight against poverty and unemployment, in Azerbaijan and the Baku Declaration.
- The appeal of Ancient Olympia.
- The “Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies” in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Great Lady of the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria".
- 2007
- 2nd Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- The Chart of Paris against cancer.
- The first Oncological Hospital for children in Greece.
- Lecture of the H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak in Athens, Greece.
- Fairuz Concert in Athens, Greece.
- International Youth Forum for Peace in Sharm El Sheikh.
- Global Humanitarian Forum.
- Makistos smiles again.
- 2006
- Round Table " The Business Community against Human Trafficking".
- Fundraising Dinner to support the “End Human Trafficking Now” global campaign.
- The "Athens Principles" in Davos.
- International Center for Peace Studies.
- Protecting youth from drugs.
- The Multicultural Children Centre “Athina” in Belgrade.
- 1st Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.
- 2005
- Helping the children of Palestine- Fundraising dinner in Cairo.
- The UN Millennium Development Goals and Civil Society.
- The Declaration of 22 Greek organisations on the UN Millennium Development Goals.
- 2004
- Exhibition of Traditional and Contemporary Handicrafts from Jordan.
- International Conference “Women in the Service of Peace” in Paris.
- International Conference “Women defending Peace” in Geneva.
- 2003
- 2nd European Conference of Legal Practitioners on juvenile matters.
- Exhibition "Breaking the Veils", Exhibition of women artists from the Islamic World, at UNESCO.
- Exhibition “The Unity of an Unique Monument: the Parthenon”, at UNESCO.
- The Mentor Awards.
- Awards to mothers.
- 2002
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina. A wonder of the modern world.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders who change our world.
- Contemporary Societies - Multicultural Co-existence- The position of the child.
- The protection of the World Cultural nad Natural Heritage.
- 2001
- The child: victim of war and messenger of peace.
- 2000
- A Model Area for creative activities in the Municipality of Ano Liosia.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Children: Symbol of hope, will, courage.
- The Meeting of Athens and Delphi on Children and Peace.
- The Declaration of Delphi on Children and Peace.
- 1st International Conference for the Culture of Peace.
- Early Childhood Resource and Training Center in Bethlehem.
- 1999
- By the side of mothers and children behind bars.
- Juvenile disappearance and abduction.
- The Hague Appeal for Peace.
- International Conference “Family and Children in the European society of the 21st Century” in Paris.
- Support for the children - victims of war in the Balkans.
- By the side of the earthquake victims.
- International Conference “Sexual abuse of children and paedophilia in the Internet”.
- 1998
- A three-point shot for a life.
- European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions".
- Family and the mass media.
- Presentation of the Minutes of the European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions"
- 1997
- International Conference “Priority to the Dignity and Safety of the children in Europe”.
- By the side of the children of Xanthi.
- Embracing children suffering from AIDS.
- The International Convention on Children's Rights and the role of the European Union.