25 December 2003 The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, a protocol to the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, received its 40th ratification at the end of September 2003 and entered into force on 25 December 2003. For more information on the signatories and ratification of the protocol, see the website of the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. For more information on state party obligations under this protocol and other initiatives to combat trafficking, please see the Trafficking Law and Policy section of this website.