In November 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (PDF, 12 pages) which supplements the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. The purpose of the Protocol is to prevent and combat trafficking and to facilitate international cooperation against trafficking. The Protocol requires States Parties to both punish traffickers and also to assist trafficked persons through the provision of social services, such as housing, medical care and legal services and counseling. The Protocol calls upon national governments to cooperate to combat trafficking, through information sharing and training of both law enforcement and providers of services for victims. The Protocol entered into force on 25 December 2003.

As of 25 April 2007, there are 111 parties to the Protocol.