IOM Conference Promotes Regional Anti-trafficking Measures

Friday, 28 June 2013

Asia has the highest rate of human trafficking in the world in the world. There is massive migration throughout the region, which can be willing, coerced, or forced.  Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Lao are particularly affected and have organised crime networks targeting victims mainly for labour and sex trafficking. There have been many attempts to build institutional partnerships across these nations to effectively crack down on cross-border crime on human trafficking; however, in practice there has been little cooperation.

SISHA attended a workshop hosted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Cooperazione Italiana at the Sunway Hotel this week.  The workshop focused on enhancing trans-border cooperation among law enforcement officials and civil society in order to support child victims of trafficking and other forms of abuse.  Participants were given the opportunity to meet with their law enforcement counterparts from the neighbouring countries of Vietnam, Thailand, and Lao. Since in the past, there have been obstacles associated with relying solely on diplomatic channels to resolve cases, the conference was designed to facilitate trans-border cooperation between the respective police departments.

This conference and subsequent dialogue demonstrates a positive step in developing the necessary relationships among the nations’ police departments so that there can be a coordinated and regional response to human trafficking and exploitation.