UNITED NATIONS, May 13 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday called for united and real efforts from all member countries to combat human trafficking.

    In an address to a thematic debate of the General Assembly on human trafficking held Wednesday, Ban said trafficking in weapons, drugs and blood diamonds has long been on the UN agenda, "now we must add people to that list."

    Ban said millions of people, most women and children, are "bought and sold like chattel" in a number of countries from Asia, Africa, across the Americas, to Europe.

    "Human trafficking is indeed one of the worst forms of violence against women and girls," he told the meeting.

    Noting that UN member states are starting to shoulder a greater share of responsibility and UN organizations and NGO community are raising awareness, Ban said those efforts need "greater coherence."

    "We have to take a tougher line against this crime," the secretary-general said.

    Describing the meeting "a call for action," Ban said human trafficking should be criminalized, urging all countries must ratify the UN anti-trafficking Protocol.

    He said member countries must prevent victimization by teaching people about their rights and protecting them, reduce the demand of the human trafficking, end impunity and protect the victims. He also called to mainstream the fight against human trafficking into broader programs, from poverty reduction to reducing gender discrimination.

    "We will achieve nothing without uniting and speaking out. We will achieve nothing by offering fine rhetoric not matched by deeds," Ban stressed. "Moral outrage is all-too-easy. Real action takes real commitment."

    The United Nations launched a blue-heart campaign in Vienna in March, aiming at raising awareness about the millions of victims of human trafficking and rallying support to combat this modern form of slavery. On Tuesday, acclaimed American painter Ross Bleckner was named as Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Human Trafficking.