S/RES/2331 (2016) United Nations Security Council Distr.: General 20 December 2016 Resolution 2331 (2016) Adopted by the Security Council at its 7847th meeting, on 20 December 2016 The Security Council, Recalling Presidential Statement 2015/25, Taking note of the Secretary-General’s reports S/2016/949, as well as S/2015/203 and S/2016/361, Recalling its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, which includes the first internationally agreed definition of the crime of trafficking in persons and provides a fr amework to effectively prevent and combat trafficking in persons, and further recalling the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Recognizing that trafficking in persons in areas affected by armed conflict and post-conflict situations can be for the purpose of various forms of exploitation, including exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs; further recognizing that trafficking in persons in armed conflict and post-conflict situations can also be associated with sexual violence in conflict and that children in situations of armed conflict and persons displaced by armed conflict, including refugees, can be especially vulnerable to trafficking in persons in armed conflict and to these forms of exploitation, Reiterating the critical importance of all Member States fully implementing relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 2195 (2014) and 2253 (2015), which express concern that terrorists benefit from transnational organized crime in some regions, including from the trafficking in persons among others, as well as 2242 (2015), which expresses concern that acts of sexual and gender -based violence are known to be part of the strategic objectives and ideology of certain terrorist groups; and recognizing the connection between trafficking in persons, sexual violence and terrorism and other transnational organized criminal activities, 16-22533 (E) *1622533*