UN Experts Seek Probe, Justice in Epstein Case

Siobhán Mullally, Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children, one the UN independent human rights experts calling for more accountability for the alleged trafficking victims in the Epstein files.

UN independent human rights experts on Thursday called for justice and accountability for young women and girls who were systematically trafficked, citing allegations contained in the so-called Epstein files.

The Human Rights Council-appointed experts also issued a broader warning about the “continuing violence of patriarchal power systems” reflected in the documents, which the US Department of Justice began releasing late last year.

The extensive collection of documents, photos, flight logs and other materials related to investigations into the activities of deceased New York-based financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has fuelled significant legal and political debate in Washington DC and beyond in recent months.

Call for transparent investigation

“We are gravely concerned by the credible allegations in the ‘Epstein files’ of systemic trafficking of young women and girls for the purpose of sexual exploitation and call for a full and transparent investigation,” the experts said in a joint statement.

The allegations implicate senior politicians, public figures, diplomats, global business leaders and leading academics, describing widespread trafficking of girls and young women across multiple international borders over decades.

Siobhán Mullally, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, along with members of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, said the situation highlights entrenched discrimination and violence within patriarchal power structures, as well as failures of accountability.

The experts stressed that trafficking of children and young women is a serious criminal offence and a grave violation of human rights, expressing deep concern over what they described as a “wholly inadequate” response by national governments and law enforcement agencies.

Culture of impunity

“The failure to ensure accountability perpetuates a culture of impunity that disproportionately harms women and girls and undermines the promise of equal protection under international human rights law,” the statement said.

They added that trafficking of children for sexual exploitation destroys childhoods and has devastating long-term consequences for victims.

The experts reminded governments of their obligations to prevent trafficking, protect victims and ensure access to justice and effective remedies, including compensation.

Support for victims

“Victims and survivors must be at the centre of effective, trauma-informed and gender-sensitive responses to trafficking in persons,” the statement said.

“They must be guaranteed medical assistance, including reproductive and sexual health services, psychosocial support, and long-term social inclusion and recovery measures.”

Action ‘long overdue’

With global attention to the case waning, the experts urged concrete action, accountability and urgent steps to ensure access to justice, along with reparations, guarantees of non-repetition and transparency.

“States bear the obligation to act, and that obligation is long overdue,” they said.

All independently appointed experts receive their mandates from the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. They are not UN staff and do not receive payment for their work.