UN Warns of Rising Human Cost in Global Migrant Smuggling Crisis
A 2018 UN General Assembly session highlighted the urgent need to address migrant smuggling and human trafficking. The two-day event, held on 4-5 September, focused on the human cost of exploitation and irregular migration. Experts warned that harsh border policies often worsen the dangers faced by migrants, pushing them toward riskier routes and unscrupulous smugglers.
The session opened with remarks from Louise Arbour, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for International Migration. She stressed the devastating impact of trafficking and smuggling, pointing to the 3,400 migrant deaths recorded in 2017 alone. Many of these tragedies occurred during perilous sea crossings, underscoring the need for better rescue operations and humanitarian support.
Migrant smuggling was defined as a crime against the state, where individuals are helped to enter countries irregularly in exchange for payment. Human trafficking, by contrast, involves forcing people into exploitative conditions for profit—a problem affecting millions globally, regardless of age or gender.
Critics at the session argued that criminalising irregular migration and tightening counter-smuggling laws often backfire. Restrictive measures, they said, drive migrants toward smugglers while making journeys even deadlier. Research also challenged the assumption that most smugglers belong to violent criminal networks, with many operating independently.
The discussions fed into the 2018 Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), adopted later that year. Since then, the UN has pushed forward with initiatives like the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), held in 2022 and planned again for 2025. These efforts include capacity-building projects, migrant protection schemes in origin and transit countries, and alignment with EU policies such as the Migration and Asylum Pact and upgrades to the Eurodac system for tracking irregular migration.
Yet concerns remain over Europe's approach to asylum seekers. Policies designed to block access to territories have been criticised for undermining international law and human rights commitments.
The 2018 session marked a step toward stronger global cooperation on migration issues. Follow-up actions, from UN-led forums to EU policy adjustments, aim to balance security with humanitarian needs. Still, the persistence of migrant deaths and exploitation shows that safer, legal pathways remain critical to reducing reliance on smugglers and traffickers.
