A/HRC/10/16 page 5 Introduction 1. The present report is submitted in accordance with resolution 8/12, in which the Human Rights Council decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children. 2. This is the first annual report submitted to the Council by Ms. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, who was appointed to this office on 18 June 2008. She succeeds Ms. Sigma Huda, who held the mandate from 2004 until 2008. 3. At its eighth session, the Council considered the mandate of the Special Rapporteur in its resolution 8/12, and decided to extend it for a period of three years, thereby underscoring the concern that trafficking in persons violates human rights and impairs the enjoyment of human rights. It continues to pose a serious challenge to humanity and requires a concerted international assessment and response through genuine multilateral cooperation among countries of origin, transit and destination in order to be eradicated. 4. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur reviews information received and activities undertaken since she assumed office on 1 August 2008. 5. The Special Rapporteur has availed herself of an avalanche of information elicited through questionnaires sent to Governments, and consultations and inputs from various stakeholders including from NGOs. However, in view of the short time that has elapsed since the Special Rapporteur took up office, she does not provide an in-depth analysis of specific topics or complaints. Instead, she sets out a thematic and methodological framework and her vision for carrying out her mandate in the coming years. I. MANDATE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN A. Overview of the problem of trafficking 6. The world today is confronted with a huge human trafficking problem, driven by the same forces that drive the globalization of markets, as there is no lack of demand and supply. In varying degrees and circumstances, men, women and children all over the world are victims of what has become a modern day slave trade. As one of the fastest growing criminal activities in the world, trafficking in persons results in serious breaches of human rights and dignity of trafficked persons. The analysis of the questionnaire sent to Governments by the Special Rapporteur clearly shows that almost every country of the world is affected either as a source, transit, and/or destination country for women, children, and men trafficked for the purposes of sexual or labour exploitation (domestic servitude and bonded labour). Trafficking occurs within and across national borders, often with one consignment of people crossing many borders to reach their final destination. 7. While trafficking studies often focus on trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, other important purposes include forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to