exploitation). Japan also provides the Philippines National Police to develop Standard Operating Procedures for the investigation of trafficking in persons in the Philippines. Japan is considering support focused on Southeast Asia in the future as well. Further, Japan provides assistance through the IOM for the safe repatriation of victims and their reintegration in their home countries, who are under protection in Japan. Moreover, Japan provides support for the Bali Process, which is a framework of illegal immigration, trafficking in persons, and transnational crime in the Asia-Pacific region.

As part of its efforts against corruption, Japan utilized contributions to the CPCJF to support for hosting seminars on corruption prevention measures in Vietnam. This contributed to the strengthening of initiatives to combat corruption in Vietnam, which is also a recipient of ODA

## Counter-Terrorism

Efforts must be made to prevent methods of terrorism and safe havens from falling into the hands of terrorists, and to overcome vulnerabilities to terrorism. Japan provides assistance to developing countries that do not necessarily have sufficient capacity to counter terrorism in order to improve their counter-terrorism capabilities. In particular, Japan established Grant Aid for Cooperation on Counter-terrorism and Security Enhancement in 2006, and since that time has utilized such aid to support measures against terrorism in developing countries.

It is important to prevent terrorism and ensure safety in Southeast Asia, which has especially close ties to Japan, so Japan has placed extra emphasis on support for from Japan. Japan is currently holding discussions with the UNODC regarding the implementation of similar seminars in other countries in Southeast Asia in the future.

Through the UNAFEI training courses and seminars have been held for criminal justice professionals from developing countries mainly in the Asia-Pacific region and other regions. Topics included protection of witnesses and whistle-blowers prevention of corruption. Each of the topics is a priority issue stipulated in the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the United Nations Convention against Corruption. These efforts contribute to the sound development of criminal justice and the strengthening of cooperative relationships in each country.

In February 2011, Japan held a seminar for officials dealing counter-terrorism from South Asian countries to deepen understanding of international counter-terrorism conventions and protocols and to promote accession to them. In addition, in FY2010, Japan contributed approximately $48,000 to the UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch to support the establishment of counter-terrorism laws in Indonesia and other ASEAN countries. Further, in January 2011, Japan contributed $1.75 million to the UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch for counter-terrorism in Afghanistan and neighboring countries.

those efforts. Specifically, Japan provides equipment, dispatches experts, hosts seminars, and accepts trainees in the areas of immigration control, aviation security, port and maritime security, customs cooperation, export control, law enforcement cooperation, combating terrorist financing, $ ^{16} $ international counter-terrorism conventions and protocols, etc.

For example, Japan has hosted the Seminar on Immigration Control every year between FY 1987 and 2010, inviting officials in charge of the immigration control authorities of various Southeast Asian countries, to strengthen mutual understanding and partnership through the sharing of information and ideas. The seminar also improves the capabilities of immigration control personnel in each country.

A Japanese expert and Thai customs staff members confirm procedures for customs clearance work at a customs office on the Mekong side of the Friendship Bridge that connects Thailand and Laos as part of the “Regional Cooperation Project on Risk Management for Customs in the Mekong Region” in Thailand. (Photo: Shinichi Kuno/JICA)