UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Tuesday called on the international community to make coordinated efforts to crack down on human trafficking, which he called as "slavery in the modern age."

Ban made the appeal at a high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly to the launch the Global Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons at UN Headquarters.

The UN has estimated that more than 2.4 million people are currently being exploited as victims of human trafficking.

"It is slavery in the modern age," Ban said. "Every year thousands of people, mainly women and children, are exploited by criminals who use them for forced labour or the sex trade. No country is immune. Almost all play a part, either as a source of trafficked people, transit point or destination."

Describing the Plan of Action as a clarion call, he said that, despite steps taken to stop human trafficking, a common, coordinated and consistent approach much be taken.

The plan will engage governments and criminal justice systems, civil society, the private sector, the media, and concerned citizens, he said. "And under the plan, the fight against human trafficking will become part of all the UN's broader development and security policies and programs."

The secretary-general urged member states, the private sector and philanthropists to contribute generously to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for those who are trafficked, especially women and children.

He also called on member states to increase technical assistance to countries that support the fight against trafficking, but lack financial resources and expertise.