UN General Assembly Meets To Curb Human Trafficking
SWEENEY: Human trafficking is a shocking issue and one that CNN has covered as part of our Freedom Project series. Today, a high level meeting focusing on trafficking is underway at the United Nations general assembly. The first of its kind, the two day meeting will hear from victims of slavery as well as activists. CNN senior UN correspondent Richard Roth joins us now live with more -- Richard.</s>RICHARD ROTH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fionnuala, this isn't the first time the UN general assembly has discussed human trafficking, but it's at its highest level of a session and it's an assessment, sort of a pep talk also to get governments to focus even more on this scourge. Human trafficking, a $32 billion industry around the world. And half of it occurs in developed countries. President of the general assembly, you see there, Vuk Jeremic of Serbia, while he had some rather strong words on this topic and he told the General Assembly that governments have to do more.</s>VUK JEREMIC, UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT: I believe that we must place the victims of human trafficking at the center of our work. No effort must be spared to bring to an end the servitude of millions while helping the survivors rebuild their lives.</s>ROTH: CNN has followed and examined the issue of human trafficking and slavery through Freedom Project reports over the last three years. CNN's Jim Clancy is here at the UN to participate in a panel discussion. Also there, Mira Sorvino, UN goodwill ambassador for the UN Office of Drugs and Crime regarding human trafficking. He's been a tireless advocate in this area. And she in part speech, part lecture to the general assembly she said man is an animal and a lot more can be done to help the people and victims involved in human trafficking.</s>MIRA SORVINA, ACTRESS: What are we? How dare we call ourselves civilized if a vast economic market flourishes on our watch, trading in misery, dissenting of lives, minds, hopes and dreams from the small to the adult so that we, the consumers, may enjoy cheaply made products and the corporations who have contracted to third parties, the complicit police and even government officials enjoyed massive cash profits off of goods created by slave labor or a falsified or inherited debt bondage.</s>ROTH: The executive director of the UN Office of Drugs and Crime said it's difficult to prosecute on the issue of human trafficking. Oftentimes the victim is far away. There are interpretation issues. There are a lot of complications for local police in pursuing this crime. He said things are improving though. The UN still needs a lot more money in its voluntary fund contributions to help in the fight against human trafficking -- Fionnuala.</s>SWEENEY: And in terms of those funding, what is the next step for the United Nations after this special session on human trafficking. Where do they go from here?</s>ROTH: Well, they'd like the legislatures in all of these UN countries to ratify important treaties and protocols. The UN Office of Drug Control executive said there are dozens of countries that have now signed on, but there are still a lot more to do -- a lot more to do. Saudi Arabia announced that it would contribute $100,000. Many of the speakers here, quite frankly, did not give exactly exciting speeches with real insight. It was really recitations of what they might have done inside their own country. It's a global problem. And there's going to have to be much more knitting together on this issue to prosecute the criminals behind this lucrative operation.</s>SWEENEY: All right. And as we heard, half of it being achieved in developed countries. Richard Roth at the United Nations. Thanks for joining us. And join us on Friday when CNN takes a look at what this sinister subject looks like in the Philippines. This is a story two years in the making. CNN's new Freedom Project documentary is an eye-opening investigation into an outrageous crime against children.</s>BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)  UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Few of us have ever seen evil up close, but the girls in this story all have. They are just a few of the 1 million children believed to be involved in human trafficking around the world. My name is Leaf Korlum (ph). Two years ago, I traveled to the Philippines to cover a story about child prostitution. That's when I fist met a woman named Cecilia Florez Abanda (ph). She has committed her life to protecting children and fighting modern-day slavery. She is hoping to convince the Philippine's favorite son, Manny Pacquiao, to lead the battle. But for those fighting for a better world, nothing in life comes easy. And as I would soon learn, in a country like the Philippines, nothing is ever as it seems.</s>SWEENEY: That is a preview of our new CNN Freedom Project documentary The Fighters will be presented in two parts over two consecutive nights. You can see part one on Friday at 9:00 pm in London. Ahead of that, you can find more at CNN.com/thefighters. There's a photo gallery from Manny Pacquiao's personal photographer and video clips from the documentary. You can also learn how to take a virtual stand against human trafficking with CNN iReport and the End It movement at CNN.com/thefighters. The latest world news headlines just ahead. Plus, he's dead to us. The brothers of Ariel Castro, the man accused of abducting three women talked to CNN in an exclusive interview. A victory parade to say farewell to Fergie. Thousands of fans head to Old Trafford to honor Manchester United's manager. 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