The UN Economic and Social Council condemns the practice of smuggling illegal migrants, noting that such smuggling continues to be a widespread international activity and frequently involves highly organized syndicates. The Council believes concerted action is needed to stop illegal migrant smuggling, especially since individuals involved in smuggling tend to use organized criminal groups to carry out their plans. In particular, the Council points out that traffic in women and girls and violence against migrant workers constitute abusive acts adverse to the status, situation, empowerment, and advancement of women and seriously violate human rights. The UN endorses government initiatives that address the issue of international migration and development and that deal with the problem of illegal migrant smuggling. Actions taken in Belgium, El Salvador, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sudan, France, and the United Kingdom to stop illegal migrant smuggling are noted. Actions required of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice are also examined. 1 note