United Nations is betting on Blockchain in the fight against child trafficking

The United Nations wants to use Blockchain software to combat child trafficking

The United Nations wants to use Blockchain software to combat child trafficking in the future with a worldwide first pilot project, the organization announced last week at the Humanitarian Blockchain Summit in New York. In cooperation with the World Identity Network WIN, the project is part of the "Blockchain for Humanity" initiative of the Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs IIHA at Fordham University in New York. The aim of the initiative is to establish blockchain solutions in the course of humanitarian aid measures.

The awareness of large corporations and international organizations and states for blockchain technology is growing: in the future, the United Nations also wants to rely on blockchain-based software in its mission for peace and human rights. A pilot project to combat child trafficking was presented by the organization's project and innovation departments last Friday, 10.11.

Counterfeit passport and identification papers are often used in child trafficking in order to unobtrusively channel minors through border controls. As UNICEF or Amnesty International report, they are often forced to work as sex slaves or abused in international organ trafficking.

Here, the pilot project in cooperation with WIN wants to start: Specifically, blockchain solutions should help to store and verify identities. The fact that security data could then be checked would increase the chance of getting human traffickers and smugglers out of the woods, Mariana Dahan, founder and managing director of the UN partner WIN the goal of the project. In addition, attempted border crossings would be easier to trace back and thus easier to prevent.

Invisible children give a face

The core problem is particularly so-called "invisible children" without birth certificates and other registration of their home countries.

"Invisible children are especially at risk. Several developing countries are currently seeking efficient ways to combat child trafficking. "
Identification measures are at the center of possible solutions and this is exactly where the project comes in, according to Dahan.

According to the United Nations, less than half of all under five-year-olds have a birth certificate. Worldwide, the organization estimates the number of unregistered 14-year-olds at more than 600 million. Of these, most live in the poorest countries in the world. These are "invisible" to the respective governments as well as foreign development aid and thus particularly endangered by kidnappings and child trafficking.

As we reported last week, besides the United Nations, the Vatican is currently also examining the role of blockchain solutions and crypto technology in human trafficking and combating it. So the church-state is taking its ambitious agenda to end the modern slave trade, not just cryptocurrencies. The Catholic Church is also exploring the potential of Blockchain solutions for non-cash developing countries.