All on Human Trafficking & International Criminal Law featuring Nataraj Muneesamy, ADPP

🌍 The global reality of human trafficking is both sobering and terrifying.

Did you know:

❗ Over 27 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking, according to the latest UN estimates
❗ 75% of victims are women and girls, with nearly 25% being children
❗ Human trafficking generates an estimated $150 billion annually in illegal profits, making it one of the most lucrative and pervasive forms of organised crime.

In Mauritius, the ODPP MAURITIUS (Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions) has recognised the urgency of this issue, establishing a dedicated taskforce to combat human trafficking at the national level.

This week, we’re honoured to have Nataraj Muneesamy, Assistant DPP and Chair of the taskforce, as our podcast guest. Nataraj delves into:

💡 What human trafficking truly means.
💡 The challenges of detection and reporting.
💡 How we can collectively raise awareness and drive action against this global crisis.

He also shares his enriching experience at the International Criminal Court in The Hague and his journey in building an incredible career in criminal law.

On a personal note, I’ve been fortunate to call Nataraj a dear friend for over 25 years. From our days as hopeful teenagers participating in the Model United Nations in 1998, I’ve witnessed firsthand his moral rectitude and deep sense of duty and justice. Thank you, Nat, for your service to this country.

🎧 Stay tuned for the full episode later this week on our usual channels. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss.



00:00 - Intro
01:50 - Choosing a career in criminal law
04:37 - Pursuing justice as a purpose
05:54 - The evolution of criminal law
07:06 - Anti-money laundering & terrorism financing taskforce
09:37 - Law v/s its efficiency & effectiveness
11:09 - What is human trafficking
12:42 - The components of human trafficking
13:51 - Trafficking in humans taskforce
16:42 - Empathy for foreign workers
19:35 - Revenue from human trafficking 
21:10 - The statistics in Mauritius
25:04 - The role of civil society actors
28:07 - Prosecuting at the International Criminal Court
33:42 - Dealing with emotions on the job
37:27 - Challenges of practising criminal law
41:04 - Any regrets
42:24 - Serving your country
46:09 - The Gen Z factor
49:56 - Find a way or make one