GOARCH Representatives Join UN Session as Member States Adopt Updated Anti-Trafficking Declaration

Harry Parks and Fr. Peter Spiro. Photo: Sarah Webb

NEW YORK — The Rev. Protopresbyter Dr. Peter J. Spiro, director of the FREEDOM Ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOARCH), participated in high-level United Nations meetings this week as member states adopted a renewed Political Declaration under the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Harry Parks, Program Coordinator for the GOARCH Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith Relations, also attended as part of the UN’s interfaith engagement efforts.

According to reporting from the Orthodox Observer, the updated declaration reaffirms international commitments to prevent exploitation, support victims, and strengthen cooperation across justice systems.

"While many member states endorsed the Political Declaration, the U.S. and some other countries did not support certain paragraphs due to substantive disagreements with the content and intent of those sections," the article states. The full statement can be found here.

Delegates stressed that trafficking remains a transnational crime requiring unified global action, particularly amid rising online exploitation and technology-enabled recruitment. They also highlighted root causes — poverty, conflict, gender-based violence, and lack of educational opportunities — and backed long-term prevention driven by economic empowerment, education, and reliable data.

"A strong survivor-centered focus was reaffirmed, with member states stressing early identification, trauma-informed care, safe housing, healthcare access, and legal assistance," the Observer reports. "The continued role of the U.N. Voluntary Trust Fund was highlighted as essential to helping victims rebuild their lives."

The meetings also called for enhanced investigative and judicial cooperation under the U.N. Trafficking Protocol and underscored the need for broad partnerships among governments, civil society, survivor-led groups, technology partners, and faith-based organizations.

Throughout the sessions, Fr. Peter met with numerous NGOs and religious groups and expressed optimism about future collaboration in global anti-trafficking efforts.

Previously, UOJ reported that Fr. Peter Spiro had addressed a U.S. summit on human trafficking.

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