Hayashi: Steps Against Human Trafficking Must Be Strengthened For Ukrainians
Japan's foreign minister has agreed with the chief of a UN anti-crime agency that measures against human trafficking need to be strengthened for Ukrainian evacuees.
Hayashi Yoshimasa met with Ghada Waly, executive director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, or UNODC, in Tokyo on Monday.
They agreed that women and children who evacuate from Ukraine to flee Russia's invasion are facing increased risks of becoming victims of human trafficking.
Waly asked for Japan's continued cooperation with her agency in dealing with such pressing challenges.
Hayashi stressed that coordination between Japan and UNODC has produced "significant results" in measures against terrorism and drug crimes in Southeast Asia and Afghanistan.
Hayashi and Waly agreed to continue to cooperate to promote the rule of law.
The UNODC carries out research and analyses on international organized crimes, corruption and terrorism, and helps countries to tackle them.