Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific

MEMORANDUM

11HUMAN TRAFFICKING
SUMMARY
Human trafficking involves the systematic exploitation of vulnerable people and theundermining of legal processes. As such, it provides a direct threat to the security of
the region, its states and societies. This issue requires a unified approach in which
national efforts are supplemented by regional institutions, international agencies andcivil society. Much is already being done, and progress has been made, but theproblem continues to grow, and there is a lack of public awareness of the problem,
especially among the victims of trafficking and in destination countries.

Introduction
Human trafficking is a significant transnational crime committed across the globe. Morepeople are on the move even as the avenues for lawful migration become more stringent.
This situation creates a natural market for traffickers in an environment where the relevant
policy and legal environment is limited.
Considerable efforts have been made in a range of jurisdictions to counter human trafficking.
Traffickers, however, are still able to profit from strong demand and abundant supply. There isalso an increasing sophistication of human trafficking operators and a growing market
specialisation on the part of the perpetrators of such crimes. On the other hand, authorities
concerned find it difficult to obtain legal convictions with victims unwilling or unable tocooperate with the criminal justice system.

Obstacles and responses
The main obstacles to effective responses to human trafficking were identified as:
1. Lack of understanding about trafficking within and between countries.
2. Inadequate or inappropriate legal frameworks.
3. Contradictory attitudes around migrant labour and the sex industry.
4. Public sector involvement and complicity in trafficking.
5. The complexity of the investigatory task including heavy reliance on victims as witnesses.
6. The low priority accorded to trafficking as a crime.
Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific
Memorandum 11 – Human trafficking

17. The failure to recognise and investigate trafficking for purposes other than sexual
exploitation.
8. Low capacity to cooperate across national borders as well as between different nationalagencies.
9. Failure to recognise the importance of victim support.
Many states in the region have active programmes to combat human trafficking, and there are
significant activities at the regional level through ASEAN, COMMIT and the Bali Process,through international agencies like the UN, the ILO, the IOM and by international NGOs.
Several governments provide support and NGOs have an important role in supporting victims
and on focusing public attention on the problem.

Recommendations
CSCAP recommends the following:
1. Regional governments should be assisted and encouraged to ratify and implement theProtocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women andChildren.
2. Linkages between law enforcement agencies should be strengthened, concentrating
efforts on both victim protection and on employers.
3. Standard operating procedures need to be developed for cooperation between NGOs
providing victim support and law enforcement agencies.
4. Research and data generation should be undertaken on:(a) The magnitude of the problem of trafficking in each country;(b) Identifying the root causes of trafficking in each country;(c) The treatment of victims of trafficking;(d) The effectiveness of anti-trafficking programmes; and(e) How agencies are giving effect to legal norms and standards.
5. Model legislation should be made more easily available to countries drafting their own
domestic legislation.
6. Governments should review the investigative capabilities of agencies, particularly:(a) Collection of baseline entry data (including transit visitors);(b) Identification technology such as biometrics; and(c) Information sharing by relevant agencies on the status and movement of people
entering and leaving their jurisdictions.
7. The ARF should pursue a needs assessment among its participants which could include:(a) A directory of organisations and NGOs involved in anti-trafficking work to be
published and disseminated to all agencies involved; and(b) Education of officers of frontline agencies and members of the criminal justicesystem to ensure that they are more sensitive to the victims.
8. Manuals developed by ARF Participants containing information on laws, protection ofvictims and relevant contacts can be used as a model for an ARF regional manual used
across the region.
9. The interview questionnaire guide for victims of human trafficking could be a model forlaw enforcement units and social workers in the region.
10. Governments need to establish standard operating procedures that give special
assistance, support and protection to the victims of human trafficking.

Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific
Memorandum 11 – Human trafficking211. ASEAN Regional Forum participants need to raise the priority given to human trafficking
among law enforcement agencies.
12. National governments should encourage local governments to be more directly andactively involved in anti-human trafficking.
13. A regional campaign could be initiated by the ARF with regional NGOs to promote publicawareness, including in destination communities.
14. Educational modules for schools could be developed by governments and NGOs. Thiswould build on work currently being supported by UNICEF.
15. Governments should further develop links with NGOs and civil society.
16. National and local governments should push for the establishment of hotlines for victims
and concerned citizens, including a working referral system.
17. Campaign materials that will be used by national and local governments should also drawattention to the modus operandi of human traffickers.
18. An ARF regional information clearinghouse could be established for exchanges amonglaw enforcers, social workers, national/local government officials, members of academe,and victims of trafficking.

27th CSCAP Steering Committee Meeting
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
4 June 2007

Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-PacificMemorandum 11 – Human trafficking

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