Trafficking: global, regional and national reports

expand all
collapse all

Websites/Multiple Documents

Description: An AP investigation helps free slaves in the 21st century... "Over the course of 18 months, Associated Press journalists located men held in cages, tracked ships and stalked refrigerated trucks to expose the abusive practices of the fishing industry in Southeast Asia. The reporters? dogged effort led to the release of more than 2,000 slaves and traced the seafood they caught to supermarkets and pet food providers across the U.S. For this investigation, AP has won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. The articles are presented here in their entirety..."
Creator/author: Esther Htusan, Margie Mason, Robin McDowell and Martha Mendoza
Source/publisher: Associated Press (AP)
Date of entry/update: 2016-04-20
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
more
Description: This page links to the US DOS reports from 2001...Browse to Country Narratives then to the alphabetical list. Burma is listed as Tier 3 -- the most serious cases..." The Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report is the U.S. Government?s principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking. It is also the world?s most comprehensive resource of governmental anti-trafficking efforts and reflects the U.S. Government?s commitment to global leadership on this key human rights and law enforcement issue. It represents an updated, global look at the nature and scope of trafficking in persons and the broad range of government actions to confront and eliminate it. The U.S. Government uses the TIP Report to engage foreign governments in dialogues to advance anti-trafficking reforms and to combat trafficking and to target resources on prevention, protection and prosecution programs. Worldwide, the report is used by international organizations, foreign governments, and nongovernmental organizations alike as a tool to examine where resources are most needed. Freeing victims, preventing trafficking, and bringing traffickers to justice are the ultimate goals of the report and of the U.S Government?s anti-trafficking policy. In the TIP Report, the Department of State places each country onto one of three tiers based on the extent of their governments? efforts to comply with the ?minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking” found in Section 108 of the TVPA. While Tier 1 is the highest ranking, it does not mean that a country has no human trafficking problem. On the contrary, a Tier 1 ranking indicates that a government has acknowledged the existence of human trafficking, made efforts to address the problem, and complies with the TVPA?s minimum standards. Each year, governments need to demonstrate appreciable progress in combating trafficking to maintain a Tier 1 ranking..."
Source/publisher: US Department of State
Date of entry/update: 2012-05-26
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
more
expand all
collapse all

Individual Documents

Description: "January 2024 Girls as young as 14-years-old were recently brought to safety from sex trafficking, in an operation run by an IJM partner and the Anti-Trafficking Task Force. The operation was initiated after one of the girls was reported missing by her aunt. She’d been coerced into forced labour at a restaurant before being trapped in sexual exploitation in a night club. Two perpetrators were also arrested at the brothel where the women and girls were found. As soon as the survivors were safe, an IJM-funded partner provided them with urgent aftercare support, including accommodation and health checks. Meanwhile, IJM’s legal partner ensured legal protection for the survivors by filing a case under the Human Trafficking Prevention and Suppression Law. Six of the survivors received legal counselling and are involved in legal proceedings. Today, after receiving intensive support at a shelter, the women and girls are safely home with their families and guardians..."
Source/publisher: International Justice Mission
2024-01-17
Date of entry/update: 2024-01-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Size:
more
Sub-title: China has a history of working with organised crime syndicates to achieve political goals. This time, it has affected Chinese nationals.
Description: "After China opened its economy last year, ending its zero Covid policy, an old problem has roared back with a vengeance. Chinese authorities are grappling with the issue of their citizens operating fraudulent schemes from Southeast Asian countries, targeting mainland Chinese residents. China has a history of collaborating with organised crime syndicates in places like Australia, Canada, and Taiwan, employing criminal groups to achieve political objectives. However, the increasing prevalence of telecom fraud and human trafficking in Myanmar and the Golden Triangle area is now adversely affecting Chinese citizens. What has been described as ‘scamdemic’ encompasses a series of illicit activities, including human trafficking and online scams. The epicentre of these activities lies in Cambodia and the Golden Triangle area, which overlaps Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos and is notorious for illicit opium production and other criminal activities. Global threat of human trafficking Cambodia, particularly Sihanoukville, has long been known as a hub for Chinese nationals engaging in illicit activities, including gambling. However, these scams originating in Cambodia have now reached industrial scale, deterring Chinese tourists from visiting this once-preferred destination. In June, Interpol issued a warning about online scam centres operating from Cambodia, with networks extending into Laos and Myanmar. Interpol noted that initially, victims of human trafficking primarily came from Chinese-speaking regions such as China, Malaysia, Thailand, or Singapore. However, victims are now drawn from as far away as Europe and South America, with even Indian nationals falling prey to job scams in Southeast Asian countries. “What began as a regional crime threat has become a global human trafficking crisis,” said Jürgen Stock, Secretary-General of Interpol. Interpol is not the only organisation sounding the alarm. In August, the United Nations reported that over 1,00,000 people were trafficked into Cambodia, and 1,20,000 into Myanmar. In recent months, the Chinese Public Security Bureau has conducted a large-scale crackdown on the scam centres, which appear to have tacit support from the governments in Cambodia and Myanmar. The Ministry of Public Security has said that it has “intensified the fight against telecom and online fraud” in the “Northern Myanmar and the Golden Triangle, an area that comprises parts of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, are two major hiding places of the fraudsters”. “Since the beginning of this year, the ministry has dispatched teams to countries including the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos for cooperation on international law enforcement, with severe crackdowns on telecom fraud and human trafficking,” said an article in China Daily. The report was subsequently published on the website of China’s Supreme People’s Court. China’s international security In a recent joint operation, Chinese police, in collaboration with local law enforcement in Myanmar, shut down approximately 11 dens operating fraudulent schemes. The bust resulted in the arrest of 269 suspects, including 189 Chinese nationals. In a separate action, China’s Ministry of Public Security launched a massive crackdown on telecom scams in Northern Myanmar, resulting in the transfer of 1,207 suspects from Myanmar to Chinese law enforcement authorities in Yunnan. These suspects were apprehended in connection with telecom fraud cases affecting Chinese citizens. While improved relations between China and Myanmar have allowed Chinese public security agencies to conduct policing activities more effectively in the country, challenges remain. Interestingly, there is even a new Chinese blockbuster movie titled No More Bets, released in 2023, which educates people about the dangers of being lured into jobs in Southeast Asia and getting ensnared in networks of fraudsters. The film tells the story of a Chinese model and a computer programmer who are promised high-salary jobs overseas but end up becoming part of a trafficking network that forces Chinese nationals to work for an online fraud scheme. The movie has been a sensational hit, grossing over $500 million in its first month and drawing attention to the issue of human trafficking. As domestic economic prospects fray, Chinese nationals are increasingly seeking opportunities in Southeast Asia for investment and employment. However, they often find themselves entangled in a web of scams in politically unstable regions, where their fellow compatriots lure them into illicit activities. Global threat of human trafficking Cambodia, particularly Sihanoukville, has long been known as a hub for Chinese nationals engaging in illicit activities, including gambling. However, these scams originating in Cambodia have now reached industrial scale, deterring Chinese tourists from visiting this once-preferred destination. In June, Interpol issued a warning about online scam centres operating from Cambodia, with networks extending into Laos and Myanmar. Interpol noted that initially, victims of human trafficking primarily came from Chinese-speaking regions such as China, Malaysia, Thailand, or Singapore. However, victims are now drawn from as far away as Europe and South America, with even Indian nationals falling prey to job scams in Southeast Asian countries. “What began as a regional crime threat has become a global human trafficking crisis,” said Jürgen Stock, Secretary-General of Interpol. Interpol is not the only organisation sounding the alarm. In August, the United Nations reported that over 1,00,000 people were trafficked into Cambodia, and 1,20,000 into Myanmar. In recent months, the Chinese Public Security Bureau has conducted a large-scale crackdown on the scam centres, which appear to have tacit support from the governments in Cambodia and Myanmar. The Ministry of Public Security has said that it has “intensified the fight against telecom and online fraud” in the “Northern Myanmar and the Golden Triangle, an area that comprises parts of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, are two major hiding places of the fraudsters”. “Since the beginning of this year, the ministry has dispatched teams to countries including the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos for cooperation on international law enforcement, with severe crackdowns on telecom fraud and human trafficking,” said an article in China Daily. The report was subsequently published on the website of China’s Supreme People’s Court. Also read: Xi Jinping toured Northeast China during G20. His way of showing he has ‘other priorities’ China’s international security In a recent joint operation, Chinese police, in collaboration with local law enforcement in Myanmar, shut down approximately 11 dens operating fraudulent schemes. The bust resulted in the arrest of 269 suspects, including 189 Chinese nationals. In a separate action, China’s Ministry of Public Security launched a massive crackdown on telecom scams in Northern Myanmar, resulting in the transfer of 1,207 suspects from Myanmar to Chinese law enforcement authorities in Yunnan. These suspects were apprehended in connection with telecom fraud cases affecting Chinese citizens. While improved relations between China and Myanmar have allowed Chinese public security agencies to conduct policing activities more effectively in the country, challenges remain. Interestingly, there is even a new Chinese blockbuster movie titled No More Bets, released in 2023, which educates people about the dangers of being lured into jobs in Southeast Asia and getting ensnared in networks of fraudsters. The film tells the story of a Chinese model and a computer programmer who are promised high-salary jobs overseas but end up becoming part of a trafficking network that forces Chinese nationals to work for an online fraud scheme. The movie has been a sensational hit, grossing over $500 million in its first month and drawing attention to the issue of human trafficking. As domestic economic prospects fray, Chinese nationals are increasingly seeking opportunities in Southeast Asia for investment and employment. However, they often find themselves entangled in a web of scams in politically unstable regions, where their fellow compatriots lure them into illicit activities. Also read: What is the no 1 search word on China’s Baidu? ‘Bharat’, ‘Modi’s table sign’ at G20 Growing clout Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Global Security Initiative is a policy tool aimed at expanding China’s influence in the realm of human and national security beyond its immediate borders. The crackdown in Cambodia and Myanmar serves as an example of how China can leverage its security institutions to achieve specific objectives, highlighting China’s growing clout in the region. With significant economic challenges at home, Xi is keen to project strength in addressing large-scale fraud activities that harm Chinese nationals. Thus, this crackdown represents a display of power on an unprecedented scale in the Southeast Asia region. In the realm of high-table diplomacy, it is often easy to forget that people are the true drivers of geopolitical influence. Southeast Asia has emerged as a backyard for China’s externalised power projection and a destination for its citizens seeking new opportunities. The crackdown on ‘scamdemic’ illustrates that China is willing to use its externalised policing authority to address domestic issues on a scale never seen before, thereby expanding the reach of Chinese public security institutions..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: The Print
2023-09-13
Date of entry/update: 2023-09-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title: The instability in Myanmar has created a conducive environment for human trafficking at the India-Myanmar border with IT workers being made victims to it
Description: "The political upheaval in Myanmar following the military coup in February 2021 has created a complex and precarious situation for human trafficking between India and Myanmar. India shares a 1,642-km porous border with Myanmar. The instability, unrest, and power struggles within Myanmar have given rise to criminal syndicates that exploit vulnerable individuals and profit from illicit activities. As stated by V Muraleedharan, the Minister of State for External Affairs, more than 400 Indian men in fraudulent IT jobs are stuck in Myanmar. This issue was also highlighted by the recent tweet by Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr. S Jaishankar, after a meeting with his Myanmar counterpart H.E. U Than Swe during the Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) gathering in Bangkok on 16 July. Concerns about human and drug trafficking were emphasised, calling for stronger collaboration among relevant parties to ensure the prompt return of trafficked victims. The instability, unrest, and power struggles within Myanmar have given rise to criminal syndicates that exploit vulnerable individuals and profit from illicit activities. To understand this concern, there is a need to examine the deteriorating human trafficking conditions along the India-Myanmar border post-coup and the challenges faced by authorities in combating this growing menace. Employment scam One of the most significant trends observed in post-coup human trafficking is the promise of fake IT occupations in Thailand, with salaries that seem too good to be true. According to reports, the syndicates’ modus operandi involves enticing IT-skilled youths with the promise of lucrative data entry careers in Thailand, with monthly salaries ranging from US$5,000 to US$8,000. These attractive job opportunities are advertised on social media platforms and through recruiting agents based in Dubai and India. The “recruits” (mostly belonging to the Indian state of Tamil Nadu) are then transported to Thailand using the visa-on-arrival facility. Upon arrival, they are taken to Mae Sot in Tak Province. Under the cover of night, they are made to cross the Moei River to illegally enter Myawaddy. Once in this remote bordering state, they are coerced into working as scammers within the facilities set up by the syndicates. One of the most significant trends observed in post-coup human trafficking is the promise of fake IT occupations in Thailand, with salaries that seem too good to be true. Fortunately, a significant number of those held captive have managed to maintain communication, and authorities are in contact with them. The harrowing tales of the rescued victims about not being provided proper food, sleep, or sanitary conditions have been quite disturbing. They were overworked and severely punished for not meeting appropriate targets. Challenges faced by Indian authorities The Indian government, particularly the Ministry of External Affairs, is confronted with multifaceted challenges in addressing human trafficking issues. The Myawaddy region, where the trafficking issue is the worst, is located within Myanmar’s Kayin province which shares a border with Thailand. In this remote area, armed militia groups hold greater control, limiting the influence of Myanmar’s military government. As a result, New Delhi encounters numerous intricate challenges in its efforts to rescue the stranded Indians. The lack of cooperation from the Myanmar authorities due to the ongoing political crisis hampers effective collaboration in tackling this issue. Additionally, the vast and difficult terrain along the border poses challenges in patrolling and securing the area adequately. Despite the daunting challenges, Indian authorities, along with the Indian missions in Bangkok and Yangon, have been actively working to rescue the victims and repatriate them to India. The collaboration between different agencies and law enforcement bodies has resulted in the successful rescue of 292 individuals who have been brought back to India through repatriation efforts. However, many still remain trapped. The Myawaddy region, where the trafficking issue is the worst, is located within Myanmar’s Kayin province which shares a border with Thailand. Bureaucratic and administrative delays also remain a major concern. The process usually involves the rescued victims crossing into Thailand. Upon reaching Thailand, the Thai armed forces detain them due to their illegal entry since the captives lack proper travel documentation to enter Myanmar, and their return to Thailand is also not legally recognised. As a result, Indian diplomats are faced with the challenging task of persuading the relevant authorities to recognise those rescued from Myanmar as victims of a human smuggling racket. This process involves extensive time and documentation efforts. Points of deliberation Enhancing collaboration between border control agencies and establishing direct communication channels between India and Myanmar can serve as a potent strategy to combat trafficking in persons and foster cross-border and regional cooperation. This was the very reason for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed between India and Myanmar in 2019 for enhancing bilateral cooperation on the prevention, rescue, recovery, and repatriation of persons who have been trafficked. However, the toppling of the civilian government made it difficult to understand whether the military government will honour the MoU and the clauses set within it that includes ensuring speedy investigation and prosecution of traffickers and organised crime syndicates in either country, and also setting up Working Groups/ Task Forces to make efforts to prevent human trafficking. The solidification of legal frameworks to tackle trafficking also needs to be ensured. While both nations have enacted laws that criminalise trafficking and protect victims and have also ratified international conventions related to human trafficking, the current political instability hinders proper and prompt measures to ensure the safety and protection of trafficked victims. In this regard, improved coordination between India and Myanmar’s law enforcement agencies is essential to effectively combat trafficking. Joint operations and intelligence sharing can help intercept traffickers and rescue victims. While both nations have enacted laws that criminalise trafficking and protect victims and have also ratified international conventions related to human trafficking, the current political instability hinders proper and prompt measures to ensure the safety and protection of trafficked victims. Additionally, raising awareness about the risks of trafficking and educating potential victims about the signs of exploitation are crucial steps in combating this issue. A delay in the publication of the advisory on fake IT jobs was noted and, thus, such negligence in the future needs to be addressed. Dissemination of reliable information is critical to restrict the spread of trafficking networks from preying on individuals. Alongside rescue efforts, it is equally important to provide rehabilitation and support to the victims to help them reintegrate into society and rebuild their lives after such traumatic experiences. Proper psychological evaluation and treatment will be essential in this regard. Addressing this complex issue requires concerted efforts from both India and Myanmar, along with international cooperation, to ensure the safety and well-being of the victims and to combat this grave violation of human rights..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Observer Research Foundation
2023-08-01
Date of entry/update: 2023-08-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Myanmar logged a total of 111 human trafficking cases in its states and regions last year, state-run media reported Tuesday, quoting the Anti-Trafficking Police Force's figures as saying. During the whole 2020, 167 people including 39 young girls were victimized while 339 traffickers were charged in connection with the cases. Regionally, Shan state registered with 37 cases, followed by Yangon region with 30 cases as well as Mandalay region and Kachin state with 10 cases each, among others. There were 22 domestic trafficking in persons in terms of forced labor, prostitution and forced marriage during the period. In 2019, 358 people including 297 females were victimized in connection with 239 human trafficking cases across the country. Under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law, people who smuggle women and children are sentenced to at least 10 years or up to lifetime sentence or fine while money or property received through trafficking will be confiscated by the government..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2021-01-05
Date of entry/update: 2021-01-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title: Several hundred Rohingya stranded since February after countries sealed borders to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Description: "People traffickers holding hundreds of Rohingya refugees at sea are demanding payments from their families to release them from boats off the shores of Southeast Asia, relatives and rights groups say. Several hundred Rohingya, members of a largely Muslim minority from Myanmar fleeing persecution at home and refugee camps in Bangladesh, have been stranded for months after countries sealed their borders to block the spread of the coronavirus. More: 'Desperate journeys': Rohingya children recall ordeal at sea Lawyers seek Facebook posts of Myanmar leaders in Rohingya case Rohingya crisis through the eyes of Al Jazeera's journalists Three people who said their relatives were at sea told the Reuters news agency that traffickers had demanded money to release them from boats that have been off Southeast Asia since February, trying to find a place to land. "Before, the deal was that if they were able to reach the Malaysian shore then they will take the money, but they're asking for it now," said Mohammed Ayas, who said his 16-year-old brother left a refugee camp in Bangladesh in February. Since then, the family has heard nothing from him, Ayas said. Musha, whose two sisters are also at sea after leaving camps in Bangladesh in February, said brokers acting for the traffickers asked the family to pay 12,000 ringgit ($2,800) via a mobile banking service for their transfer to Malaysia. He said the family paid the sum but did not know the fate of the two teenaged girls. For years, Rohingya have boarded boats between November and April, when the seas are calm, to get to Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. But coronavirus lockdowns have left boats stranded at sea. Dozens of people died on board a boat that had to return to Bangladesh in April after running out of food and water, survivors told Reuters..."
Source/publisher: "Al Jazeera" (Qatar)
2020-06-16
Date of entry/update: 2020-06-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title: China is the top destination for victims of human trafficking in Myanmar, the police anti-human trafficking task force said.
Description: "The task force said that out of the 239 anti-human trafficking cases recorded in 2019, 196 cases were forced marriage to Chinese nationals. “There were 239 cases of trafficking in persons that we resolved nationwide. Of which, 196 cases had China as the destination,” said a member of the anti-human trafficking police force. Human trafficking incidents to China include 188 cases of forced marriage, two cases of prostitution, one case of forced adoption, three cases of forced labour, and 2 cases of surrogacy, police said. Police said it filed charges on the 732 suspects in all the cases. The 239 cases comprised of 358 victims, 61 male and 297 female. Aside from China, other destinations for the human trafficking cases are Thailand and Malaysia involving prostitution and forced labour. Yangon Region and Shan State has the most number of human trafficking incidents, recording 65 cases each,” the police officer said. Other regions and states where human trafficking cases were reported were Mandalay, 28; Ayeyarwady, 28; Kachin, 25; Bago, 12; Mon, 4; Sagaing, 3; Kayin, 3; Nay Pyi Taw, 2; Tanintharyi, 2; Magwe, 1; and Chin, 1..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2020-01-09
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "A TOTAL of 1,807 victims of human trafficking were rescued in Thailand last year, a marked increase from 622 in 2018. According to the Bangkok Post, the highest figure was 982 victims in 2015. Police said about 60 per cent of those rescued last year were women and most were trafficked for labour. “Nearly three-quarters of them were Burmese migrants bound for neighbouring Malaysia.” Lawyers and activists said the spike in victims uncovered by the authorities could put pressure on the nine government-run shelters that support survivors. They said this put a strain on the budget allocated for victims’ wellbeing and affected the ability of staff members to provide support. Thailand has ramped up efforts to tackle trafficking in recent years, under scrutiny from the United States and following criticism of its failure to stop trafficking in its multibillion-dollar seafood industry, and the sex trade. Those identified as trafficking victims can choose to receive help from the government. This includes staying at a shelter and being compensated through a state fund that provides living and rehabilitation expenses in addition to lost wages. Victims are also entitled to legal aid and job opportunities while awaiting trial to give testimony or being returned home..."
Source/publisher: "New Straits Times" (Malaysia)
2020-01-08
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: " On a par with the “super drug traffickers” threat, human trafficking is giving Southeast Asian countries a big headache with the recent death of 39 Vietnamese nationals while trying to enter Britain being the latest case in point. The Asean Post quoted the United States Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2019 as stating that in the case of Vietnam, traffickers typically subjected their victims to forced labour in construction, fishing, agriculture, mining, logging and manufacturing sectors. They are primarily trafficked to Angola, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates. Taking into account the wider Asian region, the Asia Pacific is in fact facing the biggest problem when it comes to human trafficking. According to the 2016 Global Slavery Index by the Walk Free Foundation, it is estimated that 25 million people are trapped in modern slavery in the region, accounting for 62 per cent of the global total. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen urged Asean to cooperate with China to tackle the human trafficking issue, according to a report from The Khmer Times. “Human trafficking, exploitation of labour, sex trafficking, child labour and organ trafficking are serious crimes. It is necessary for Asean and China to pay attention and work together to prevent them,” he said..."
Source/publisher: "New Straits Times" (Malaysia)
2019-11-30
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Topic: Trafficking, India, MoU, Myanmar
Topic: Trafficking, India, MoU, Myanmar
Description: "In an effort to stop human trafficking, India has decided to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Myanmar very soon. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday has given approval for the MoU between India and Myanmar on bilateral cooperation for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons; Rescue, Recovery, Repatriation and Re-integration of victims of Trafficking. The MoU aims to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two countries and to increase bilateral cooperation on the issues of prevention, rescue, recovery and repatriation related to human trafficking. It will also strengthen cooperation to prevent all forms of human trafficking and to protect and assist the victims of trafficking, besides ensuring speedy investigation and prosecution of traffickers and organized crime syndicates in either country. It also aims to strengthen immigration and border controls cooperation and implementation of strategies with relevant ministries and organizations to prevent trafficking in persons. The MoU will also work on setting up ‘Working Groups’ and ‘Task Forces’ to prevent human trafficking “It will also help in developing and sharing database on traffickers and victims of trafficking in a safe and confidential manner and exchange information through designated focal points of India and Myanmar,” an official said..."
Source/publisher: "The Sentinel" (India)
2019-11-28
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "The family of a 17-year-old Myanmar woman trafficked to China more than a year and a half ago said Wednesday that relatives recently had contact with her but they fear that her Chinese abductor might sell her again, amid efforts by NGOs and anti-human trafficking authorities to locate and rescue her. In April 2018, a local couple from the teenager’s neighborhood in Taungoo township in southern central Myanmar’s Bago region told her they could arrange for her to get a job in China, where salaries for blue-collar work are higher than they are in Myanmar, the young woman’s mother said. Unbeknownst to the young woman, Thuzar Aye, the couple were brokers for human traffickers, and once she was in their hands, the person for whom they worked sold her to a Chinese man in the border town of Ruili across the river from Muse in Myanmar’s northern Shan state, her mother said. Thuzar Aye was forced to have the man’s baby later that year, she said. Now that Thuzar Aye’s family recently had contact with the teenager, her relatives are worried that she might be sold again to someone else..."
Source/publisher: "Radio Free Asia (RFA)" (USA)
2019-11-13
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-14
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "A Myanmar woman trafficked to China seven years ago and who bore four children while in captivity has been returned to her family, an NGO worker and the woman’s sister told RFA Monday. The 47-year-old woman, whose leg had been broken by her captors, was found by Chinese police and transferred to Myanmar authorities in the border town of Muse in Myanmar’s northern Shan state on Nov. 1, they said. She was then sent back to her home in Bago city in central Myanmar’s Bago region on Sunday. Her relatives requested that RFA’s Myanmar Service not publish the name of the woman. “She has a broken leg and is mentally disabled,” said Thaung Htun from the Muse Humanitarian Organization which helped the woman return home. “She was trafficked, forced to get pregnant, and has had four babies,” he said. “She is now 47 years old. They must have thrown her out as she is getting old.” Thaung Htun said Chinese authorities found the woman throwing away Chinese currency notes along a road, Thaung Htun said..."
Source/publisher: "Radio Free Asia (RFA)" (USA)
2019-11-04
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title: Court to deliver verdict on appeals of Thailand's largest-ever human trafficking trial
Description: "The Government of Thailand should establish a public trust fund to provide financial reparations for tens of thousands of Rohingya survivors of human trafficking through Thailand from 2012 to 2015, said Fortify Rights today. The Thai judicial system should also ensure all perpetrators responsible for the mass-scale trafficking of Rohingya refugees and others are held legally accountable. The Criminal Court Division for Human Trafficking in Bangkok is expected to issue decisions tomorrow in response to appeals submitted by the prosecution and the defense in the largest human trafficking case in Thailand’s history, which concluded in July 2017. “The lower court set an important precedent in Thailand and the region by convicting scores of human traffickers involved in horrific abuses against Rohingya refugees. These earlier convictions demonstrated a welcomed commitment to combatting trafficking,” said Amy Smith, Executive Director of Fortify Rights. “The court and the government now have an opportunity to reiterate the message that there are severe consequences for human trafficking and that survivors will be protected and compensated.” The prosecutor and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security as co-plaintiffs submitted an appeal to the court, calling for increased sentences against those convicted in 2017 for trafficking Rohingya and others and reconsideration of the cases against 28 defendants dismissed by the lower court. The defendants also submitted an appeal seeking a reduction in the sentences imposed by the lower court..."
Source/publisher: "Fortify Rights"
2019-10-30
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-31
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 131.56 KB (3 pages)
more
Topic: China, Human Trafficking, Muse, Taunggyi
Topic: China, Human Trafficking, Muse, Taunggyi
Description: "A court in the Shan State capital of Taunggyi sentenced a woman accused of human trafficking to 80 years in prison last week, according to police in Muse. Ma Htay Win was found guilty on four counts of human trafficking, each of which carries a 20-year sentence, according to U Kyaw Nyunt, an officer with an anti-human trafficking police force on the China-Myanmar border. The cases involved three women from Pekon Township and one from Sesai Township, all of whom who were trafficked into China. Ma Htay Win was charged under Article 28 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law. U Kyaw Nyunt said that the victims escaped, returned from China and then opened cases against Ma Htay Win. “When they arrived at the border in Muse, they told us that they were from Pekon so we sent them to Pekon and they opened cases at the Pekon Police Station,” the officer said. “[Ma Htay Win] lured these women and trafficked them to Chinese men. She was the main person involved in this case.” According to the anti-human trafficking police in Muse, many cases have shown that Myanmar women are trafficked into China and then forced to marry Chinese men..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
2019-10-07
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "More than 70 percent of human trafficking victims were smuggled into China, said Yangon Region Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein at the celebration of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Day. Yangon observed the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Day at the Drug Elimination Museum on September 13 with the presence of the chief minister and Yangon Region Parliament speaker. "In all human trafficking cases, 79.61 percent of victims were trafficked into China, 1.46 percent into Thailand and 18.93 percent inside the country (Myanmar). Most were smuggled into China. Yangon Region saw 62 human trafficking cases with 14 males and 61 females totalling 75 from September 2018 to date. We could expose and took action against 176 traffickers—53 men and 123 women," said the chief minister. He said human trafficking is a human rights violations adding that countries with less economic development bear the brunt. He blamed human trafficking issue in Myanmar on economic problems, natural disasters and internal armed conflicts. There were 27 human trafficking cases across the country in August this year. In 21 of those cases, Myanmar women were sold into forced marriage in China, according to Myanmar Anti-Human Trafficking Police. In the 27 cases that happened in August, 46 people became victims and 72 offenders were arrested..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
2019-09-14
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "Myanmar police have exposed a total of 191 human trafficking cases across the country in the first nine months of this year, according to figures released by the Anti-Trafficking Police Force on Wednesday. From January to September this year, 556 traffickers were charged in connection with the cases and 279 people were victimized. Altogether 25 people including seven children were victimized while 54 traffickers were charged in connection with 15 human trafficking cases in September alone. Under Myanmar's 2005 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law, people who smuggle women and children were sentenced to at least 10 years or up to lifetime sentence or fine. Money or property received through trafficking will be confiscated by the government..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2019-10-02
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "This year, more than 100 human trafficking survivors from have returned to Sagaing Region from China. Doh Athan partners with the Monywa Gazette to tell the story of Daw Mi Maw, a widow who was promised a better life in China and then found herself working long hours in a squalid factory for no wages. She spent everything she had to escape back to Myanmar, but tells of many undocumented Myanmar migrants who are still trapped on the other side..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Frontier Myanmar" via Dohathan
2019-09-06
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-07
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title: Thailand’s government will send back to Myanmar some 700 victims of human trafficking who have been held in rehabilitation shelters after an identification process, Myanmar and Thai government officials said on Thursday.
Description: "The officials announced the plan at a press conference after the 23rd Myanmar-Thailand Case Management Meeting on the Return and Reintegration of Victims of Trafficking at a hotel in Yangon. “We are transferring back trafficked victims whose court hearings are over and those who have been confirmed as citizens of their native country. We will transfer them in two or three batches over the course of a year,” said Sunee Srisangatrakullert, director of Thailand’s Division of Anti-Trafficking in Persons. Sunee said people trafficked to Thailand usually fall into three categories – forced labour, those forced to beg, and women forced into prostitution – and the number of victims from Myanmar has been higher than those from Laos or Cambodia over the past two years. There about 700 trafficking victims from Myanmar in Thai rehabilitation shelters. “Of the number, some 600 are presumed to be Myanmar citizens. We will bring home those who have been confirmed as our citizens,” said Ma Khine Su Lwin, assistant director of Myanmar’s Department of Rehabilitation..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times"
2019-08-13
Date of entry/update: 2019-08-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: "This report presents major threats posed by transnational organized crime in the Pacific region, mainly focusing on the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). Based on consultations with the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and information obtained from desk reviews conducted by UNODC, this report focuses on four major types of transnational organized crime affecting the Pacific region: • Drug and precursor trafficking; • Trafficking in persons & smuggling of migrants; • Environmental crimes (fishery crime and other wildlife trafficking & illegal logging and timber trafficking); and • Small arms trafficking. In addition to the major four types of transnational crime, the report also includes some information on the trafficking of counterfeit goods, including fraudulent medicines, and cybercrime to shed light on emerging threats in the region. The four major illicit flows discussed in the report are different sorts of illicit activities, yet they all pose immense challenges to the region. There are strong indications that the PICTs are increasingly targeted by transnational organized crime groups due to their susceptibility to illicit flows driven by several factors. These include (a) the geographical location of the PICTs situated between major sources and destinations of illicit commodities; (b) extensive and porous jurisdictional boundaries; and (c) differences in governance and heterogeneity in general law enforcement capacity across numerous PICTs and the region in general. These complexities also underscore the inherent difficulties in detecting, monitoring, preventing and responding to transnational organized crimes in the region. In this context, transnational criminal activities continue to increase throughout the Pacific and have detrimental impacts on communities, sustainable economic development and regional security. At a regional level and across all transnational organized crime types discussed in this report, a fundamental problem is the significant gaps in data and information related to transnational crime among the PICTs. This is a major hindrance in developing effective and evidence-based responses to transnational organized crime..."
Source/publisher: UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
2016-09-00
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 4.1 MB
more
Description: "DRUG AND PRECURSOR TRAFFICKING | Threat assessments undertaken help improve understanding of the flow of drugs and precursors and designing effective solutions. Enhanced understanding of the regional context and strengthened capacities are required to address the challenge of synthetic drug production in Southeast Asia and the Pacific region. HUMAN TRAFFICKING | MIGRANT SMUGGLING | Regional and inter-agency cooperation and information sharing are vital to address human trafficking and migrant smuggling across the region. Law enforcement agencies often lack sufficient knowledge to correctly identify human trafficking and migrant smuggling cases, and legal frameworks to prosecute cases are not always adequate. FOREST AND WILDLIFE CRIME | The designation of wildlife and timber trafficking as serious transnational crimes requiring regional action by the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime has moved wildlife and forest crime up on the regional agenda. UNODC will continue supporting Member States to address environmental crimes. BORDER MANAGEMENT AND CROSS BORDER COOPERATION | Aiming to bring together counterparts from different countries, jurisdictions, and agencies with a focus on sharing information. Communication through the border liaison office network is the key element in UNODC’s approach to strengthening border control in the region. ANTI CORRUPTION | The first round of the implementation review mechanism of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) was conducted throughout the region. Effective anti-corruption efforts require a wholeof-government and society approach, including different sectors and branches of the government, civil society groups and the private sector. TERRORISM PREVENTION | A growing number of attacks in the region placed terrorism high on the agenda throughout 2016. UNODC will continue supporting Member States to strengthen national capacities to counter terrorism and address regional threats such as foreign terrorist fighters returning to the region. CRIMINAL JUSTICE | Criminal justice provides the foundation to counter organized crime and protect vulnerable groups through the rule of law. UNODC will continue to support Member States to address key criminal justice challenges, and to drive criminal justice reform in the region. DRUGS AND HEALTH, AND ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT | UNODC continues to offer support to Member States in Southeast Asia in transitioning from compulsory treatment centers for drug users, towards a voluntary community based treatment approach. At the same time, UNODC will continue to advance its principles on alternative development and assist with research on the opium economy..."
Source/publisher: UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
2016-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 2.91 MB
more
Description: Twenty representatives of law enforcement agencies were brought together this week, for the latest in a series of workshops designed to boost prosecutions on serious cases of migrant smuggling. The participants learnt how complex investigations could benefit from multi-agency cooperation, as well as from the proactive use of intelligence. Special emphasis was placed on the context of Myanmar, with interactive talks and up-to-date threat assessments from senior officials from the departments of Immigration, Anti-Financial Crimes, Anti-Human Trafficking Police, Maritime Police and Transnational Crime. The smuggling of migrants poses a significant threat to Asia, generating an annual value of $2 billion for criminal groups. In recent years, there has been growing awareness of the potential human suffering that smuggled migrants can incur, notably since the Bay of Bengal crisis in Spring 2015. This week's capacity training is the latest instalment of the UNODC project on Building Capacity to Investigate and Prosecute Migrant Smugglers, designed to boost the numbers of successful prosecutions in serious cases of migrant smuggling. Previous workshops in this series have been held in Thailand and Malaysia. Sub-regional sessions, designed to promote cooperation transnationally, are scheduled for later in the year.
Source/publisher: UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
2017-06-12
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "Since 2007, IOM Myanmar has been implementing victimcentered and right-based approach counter-trafficking programs. The effort is aimed at improving the technical capacity of key government agencies to prevent human trafficking, provide assistance to victims of trafficking (VoT), and to enhance law enforcement effectiveness and good governance to combat human trafficking and smuggling. IOM works closely with key government bodies under the Central Body for the Trafficking in Persons (CBTIP), including the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement (MoSWRR), and the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population (MOLIP). IOM also collaborates with Myanmar’s civil society organizations (CSOs) and promote home generated solutions towards the issue of human trafficking..."
Source/publisher: IOM Myanmar
2018-07-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 666.4 KB
more
Description: "Bangladeshi police prevented dozens of Rohingya Muslims, most of them women, about to be trafficked to Malaysia by boat, authorities said today. Traffickers had picked up at least 69 Rohingya from refugee camps in the Cox's Bazar district, promising them work in Malaysia where many Rohingya already live, police said. Scores of Rohingya Muslims have boarded boats in recent months to try to reach Malaysia, part of what authorities fear could be a new wave of people smuggling by sea after a 2015 crackdown on trafficking. An estimated 25,000 Rohingya crossed the Andaman Sea for Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia in 2015, many drowning in unsafe and overloaded boats..."
Source/publisher: The Daily Star
2019-05-14
Date of entry/update: 2019-05-15
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "Twenty-four Rohingya refugees have been rescued from being trafficked to Malaysia in the capital Dhaka in Bangladesh, a police official said. Police also detained four traffickers as well as seized dozens of Bangladeshi passports from the smugglers, Mazedul Islam told the local daily Prothom Alo. Of the 24 rescued Rohingya refugees, 22 were women aged between 15 and 22, officials said. Islam said the traffickers have brought the refugees to Dhaka from Cox's Bazar and kept them confined at a house. Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012. According to Amnesty International, more than 750,Since Aug. 25, 2017, nearly 24,000 Rohingya Muslims have been killed by Myanmar’s state forces, according to a report by the Ontario International Development Agency (OIDA). More than 34,000 Rohingya were also thrown into fires, while over 114,000 others were beaten, said the report, titled "Forced Migration of Rohingya: The Untold Experience." Some 18,000 Rohingya women and girls were raped by Myanmar’s army and police and over 115,000 Rohingya homes were burned down and 113,000 others vandalized, it added. The UN has also documented mass gang rapes, killings -- including of infants and young children -- and brutal beatings and disappearances committed by Myanmar state forces. In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity and genocidal intent.000 Rohingya refugees, mostly women, and children, have fled Myanmar and crossed into Bangladesh after Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community in August 2017..."
Creator/author: SM Najmus Sakib
Source/publisher: Asia Pacific
2019-05-12
Date of entry/update: 2019-05-12
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "The Myanmar and Chinese governments have failed to stem the trafficking of ethnic Kachin women and girls as “brides” to families in China. Trafficking survivors said that trusted people, including family members, promised them jobs in China, but instead sold them for the equivalent of US$3,000 to $13,000 to Chinese families. In China, they were typically locked in a room and raped so they would become pregnant..."
Source/publisher: Human Rights Watch
2019-03-21
Date of entry/update: 2019-05-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English, Kachin
more
Description: BURMA: Tier 2 Watch List "The Government of Burma does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. The government made key achievements during the reporting period; therefore, Burma was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List. These achievements included continued progress to eliminate the recruitment and use of child soldiers, an increased number of personnel dedicated to anti-trafficking law enforcement units, and the first trafficking prosecutions of government officials since the enactment of the 2005 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law. The government strengthened efforts to identify victims in vulnerable border areas, reached its goal of appointing trafficking case workers to all social welfare offices throughout the country, and continued cooperation with international partners to identify and demobilize children recruited into the military?s ranks, culminating in the release of 112 individuals recruited as children. Despite these achievements, the government continued to require troops to source their own labor and supplies from local communities, thereby increasing the prevalence of forced labor; failed to sufficiently penalize military officials who engaged in child soldier recruitment; and prevented the UN from playing a constructive role in bringing to an end the recruitment and use of children by ethnic armed groups. Throughout the reporting period, victim identification and protection measures remained insufficient as a result of limited resources and a general lack of coordination and awareness among key government agencies and law enforcement entities; authorities continued to arrest trafficking victims for acts they were forced to commit as a result of being subjected to human trafficking..."
Source/publisher: US Dept of State
2017-07-13
Date of entry/update: 2018-07-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: BURMA: Tier 3 "The Government of Burma does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore Burma was downgraded to Tier 3. Despite the lack of significant efforts, the government continued to prosecute and convict traffickers, and it identified more victims than the previous year. It also committed resources to awareness-raising efforts aimed at preventing child soldier recruitment and use. However, Burmese armed forces (Tatmadaw) operations in Rakhine State dislocated hundreds of thousands of Rohingya and members of other ethnic groups, many of whom were subjected to exploitation in Burma, Bangladesh, and elsewhere in the region as a result of their displacement. While the Tatmadaw continued efforts to identify and demobilize child soldiers among its ranks, verified incidents of unlawful child soldier recruitment and use continued, and the government took punitive action against former child soldiers for desertion, alleged fraud, and defamation. Authorities continued to prevent the UN from playing a constructive role in eradicating the recruitment and use of children by ethnic armed groups (EAGs)—a practice that reportedly increased due to the security situation in restive areas. The Tatmadaw continued to require troops to source their own labor and supplies from local communities, thereby perpetuating the labor exploitation of adults and children. There were reports that government officials were complicit in both sex and labor trafficking, including by hindering law enforcement efforts against the perpetrators. The government reported some efforts to seek criminal accountability for officials complicit in trafficking, but not for the recruitment and use of child soldiers..."
Source/publisher: US Dept of State
2018-06-28
Date of entry/update: 2018-07-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
more
Description: BURMA: Tier 3: "Burma is a source country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and for women and children subjected to sex trafficking, both in Burma and abroad. Some Burmese men, women, and children who migrate for work abroad— particularly to Thailand and China, as well as other countries in Asia, the Middle East, and the United States—are subjected to forced labor or sex trafficking. Men are subjected to forced labor in fishing, manufacturing, forestry, agriculture, and construction abroad, while women and girls are primarily subjected to sex trafficking, domestic servitude, or forced labor in garment manufacturing. NGOs report a continued increase in the number of Burmese males transiting Thailand en route to Indonesia and Malaysia, where they are subjected to forced labor, primarily in fishing and other labor intensive industries. Some Burmese men in the Thai fishing industry are subjected to debt bondage, passport confiscation, threats of physical or financial harm, or fraudulent recruitment; some are also subjected to physical abuse and forced to remain aboard vessels in international waters for years. Burmese women are transported to China and subjected to sex trafficking and domestic servitude through forced marriages to Chinese men; there have been reports that Burmese government officials are occasionally complicit in this form of trafficking. There were also limited reports of smuggled Rohingya individuals being abducted and sold into forced labor en route to other countries, or sold into forced marriage in Malaysia; some of these individuals may have become victims of domestic servitude or sex trafficking. Complicit officials in Burma, Thailand, and Malaysia reportedly facilitated the smuggling and exploitation of Rohingya migrants..."
Source/publisher: US Dept of State
2016-06-30
Date of entry/update: 2016-06-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 113.36 KB
more
Description: "In May 2015 three boats carrying 1,800 women, men and children landed in Aceh, Indonesia. Most of the passengers were Muslim Rohingya, a persecuted religious and ethnic minority from Myanmar. All those who arrived had endured weeks or months at sea, in overcrowded boats controlled by ruthless traffickers or abusive people-smugglers. The report includes testimonies from the Rohingya on the shocking conditions and human rights abuses they suffered on the boats for weeks or sometimes months on end, including killings and beatings while they were held hostage for ransom."
Source/publisher: Amnesty International, (ASA 21/2574/2015)
2015-10-20
Date of entry/update: 2015-10-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English (available also in Indonesian)
Format : pdf
Size: 3.21 MB
more
Description: "GELUGOR, Malaysia — The young woman had been penned in a camp in the sweltering jungle of southern Thailand for two months when she was offered a deal. She fled Myanmar this year hoping to reach safety in Malaysia, after anti-Muslim rioters burned her village. But her family could not afford the $1,260 the smugglers demanded to complete the journey. A stranger was willing to pay for her freedom, the smugglers said, if she agreed to marry him. ?I was allowed to call my parents, and they said that if I was willing, it would be better for all the family,” said the woman, Shahidah Yunus, 22. ?I understood what I must do.” She joined the hundreds of young Rohingya women from Myanmar sold into marriage to Rohingya men already in Malaysia as the price of escaping violence and poverty in their homeland. While some Rohingya women agree to such marriages to escape imprisonment or worse at the hands of smugglers, others are tricked or coerced. Some are only teenagers. Continue reading the main story RELATED COVERAGE France and Britain Seek Help on Calais Migrants From E.U.AUG. 2, 2015 A Bangladeshi Town in Human Trafficking?s GripJULY 23, 2015 Jubair, 13, was left behind when his mother and siblings fled Myanmar for Malaysia. ?I didn?t know about it,” he said. ?She could not find me. She could not tell me.”A Migrant Mother?s Anguished ChoiceJULY 5, 2015 Oma Salema, 12, holding her undernourished brother, Ayub Khan, 1, in Sittwe Camp.Myanmar to Bar Rohingya From Fleeing, but Won?t Address Their PlightJUNE 12, 2015 Malaysia offers at least some modicum of opportunity for Rohingya migrants. Rohingya gathered at an apartment block in Kuala Lumpur that is home to several families.Even in Safety of Malaysia, Rohingya Migrants Face Bleak ProspectsJUNE 3, 2015 Rohingya migrants with airdropped food. A boat carrying them and scores of others, including young children, was found floating in Thai waters; passengers said several people had died.Rohingya Migrants From Myanmar, Shunned by Malaysia, Are Spotted Adrift in Andaman SeaMAY 14, 2015 How Myanmar and Its Neighbors Are Responding to the Rohingya CrisisMAY 14, 2015 Their numbers are difficult to gauge, but officials and activists estimate that in recent years hundreds, if not thousands, of Rohingya women every year have been married off this way, and that their numbers have been increasing..."
Creator/author: Chris Buckley, Ellen Barry
Source/publisher: "New York Times"
2015-08-02
Date of entry/update: 2015-08-20
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: Executive Summary: "This report outlines patterns of migrant smuggling in Asia and presents evidence-based knowledge to guide policy and strengthen international cooperation. Developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, it is part of a series of knowledge products considering acute and far-reaching issues confronting governments and communities in South-East Asia, as part of an ongoing analytical and capacity-strengthening process. Migrant smuggling occurs against the backdrop of regional integration within Asia, which has created a rapid increase in the cross-border movement of people and goods. Countries often have a multifaceted relationship to the migration phenomenon, simultaneously serving as a source, transit and destination for regular and irregular migration. Although most migrant smuggling in the region takes place within Asia, smuggled migrants are also reaching destinations in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America..."
Source/publisher: UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
2015-04-00
Date of entry/update: 2015-05-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: ABSTRACT: "In order to prevent, suppress and punish human trafficking, bilateral agreements between origin of victim countries and destination countries are crucial, because their cooperation involves cross-border activities such as repatriation of victims, extradition of criminals and information-sharing. This article analyzes three bilateral legal instruments between The Government of The Kingdom of Thailand and her three neighboring countries, namely The Royal Government of Cambodia, The Government of Lao People?s Democratic Republic and The Government of The Union of Myanmar. The analysis will examine the legal status of the victim, the victim as witness in criminal proceedings, the victim protection programs, the recovery and restitution of damages, the process of repatriating the victim, and the prosecution of the criminal. .... Keywords: Human Trafficking, Memorandum of Understanding, Origin country, Destination country, Bilateral Cooperation PDF pdf (249KB)
Creator/author: Miwa YAMADA
Source/publisher: IDE-JETRO Discussion paper No. 349
2012-03-00
Date of entry/update: 2012-12-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: I Legislation; II General analysis and implementation in cases; III Conclusions and Recommendations..."Despite the efforts of NGOs working with the Government to achieve effective changes such as the MOU, the difficulty remains in implementation. Acknowledgement of trafficking by government officials is limited. Efforts have been made to create a comprehensive definition of trafficking in persons that encompasses purposes of trafficking other than for prostitution. Yet officials still consider trafficking to be equal to prostitution, and people trafficked for other purposes are treated as illegal migrants and are generally deported without any assistance. The cases in this chapter are not ?typical?, in the sense that they are the cases where NGOs could intervene and some progress was made. Barriers in providing assistance to them are not only the language, but also the attitudes towards foreign migrants and neglecting their rights. However in the vast majority of cases, there is no NGO to inform trafficked persons of their rights nor to intervene and ensure their protection. The support of NGOs is important to empower the trafficked victim person and help them decide whether to participate in the prosecution. Trafficked persons deserve to have enough information so that they can participate in decision-making concerning their rights and their lives. It is crucial to improve the practice of all agencies involved to treat a trafficked person as an individual who can make a decision about his or her own fate, not simply as a tool for prosecuting traffickers. It is important to provide protection when they are treated as witnesses. For migrants who are permitted to stay in Thailand for judicial proceedings, such as Win Win and the Laotian women, they should be able to work legally as these trials take up to a year. This is not only in order to earn money, but also to ensure the women are active and feel empowered. It is a challenge for agencies involved or working on this issue to make use of limited resources to ensure protection and safety of trafficked persons and also to meet their needs..."
Source/publisher: Anti-Slavery International
2002-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2010-12-26
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 61.04 KB
more
Description: Executive summary: The present report is submitted in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/46. During the period under review the Special Rapporteur continued to receive information on the human rights of migrants and to exchange communications with Governments. A summary of the communications sent and responses received is contained in annex 1 to this report. The Special Rapporteur visited Spain and Morocco. Reports on those visits are contained in annexes 3 and 4 respectively. A summary of all the meetings and events attended by the Special Rapporteur since January 2003 is contained in her report to the General Assembly (A/58/275). During the period not covered by that report, the Special Rapporteur participated in other such activities. On 6 June 2003, the Special Rapporteur requested information on the situation of migrants employed in domestic service (hereinafter ?migrant domestic workers”, the term including persons of both sexes) by means of a questionnaire distributed to all the permanent missions in Geneva, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), United Nations and other pertinent agencies and programmes and international experts in this area of work.
Source/publisher: United Nations (E/CN.4/2004/76)
2004-01-12
Date of entry/update: 2010-12-26
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "...What are the specific vulnerabilities of workers in domestic work? What are the differences in the nature of the situation and conditions facing women and men, boys and girls, and those of differing ethnic origins? What are the similarities and differences in the situations of domestic workers moving internally and those migrating internationally? ! To what extent have countries recognized domestic work as work, acknowledging that domestic workers deserve equal protection? Is there a need for sector-specific legislation? What level of forced labour/and or trafficking is involved in domestic work and how is it manifested? To what extent have migration policies reinforced dependency on employers and intermediaries and increased vulnerability to abuse? What, if any, effects have recent migration policies had on recruitment systems? How could the forced labour/trafficking standards be useful in relation to the domestic worker issue? How do domestic workers themselves see forced labour and trafficking in relation to domestic work? What are the responsibilities of governments, trade union and worker organisations and civil society at national and local levels in origin and destination countries/communities? What can domestic workers and/or their organisations do to ensure these responsibilities are fulfilled? What should be the main elements of a regional action programme to improve recruitment and working conditions of domestic workers?... This paper provides background information to facilitate discussion of the questions listed above, with particular focus on the applicability of the trafficking/ forced labour framework in addressing domestic work..."
Creator/author: Lin Chew
Source/publisher: Anti-Slavery International
2003-01-00
Date of entry/update: 2010-12-26
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "During the past decade, trafficking has become an issue of growing concern in South-East Asia. It has been conservatively estimated that at least 200-225,000 women and children from South-East Asia are trafficked annually, a figure representing nearly one-third of the global trafficking trade. Of the estimated 45-50,000 women and children estimated to be trafficked into the US each year, 30,000 are believed to come from South-East Asia. However, most trafficking occurs within South-East Asia, and only a minority of women from the region are trafficked to other parts of the world. Trafficking is not a new problem for South-East Asia, and many initiatives have been developed to combat the problem by NGOs, inter-governmental organizations, government ministries, national and international bodies, human rights organizations and lobby networks. This study provides an overview of these various initiatives and the different actors involved in the fight against trafficking in the region and an inventory of current anti-trafficking programmes and measures. Although previous efforts have been made to compile information on a national, regional or subregional basis on counter-trafficking measures, these compilation reports do not provide a systematic overview of the variety of responses that have been developed within the region. This study aims to provide such an overview as well as to be a tool for information exchange and for further development of counter-trafficking initiatives, as intended by the Bangkok Declaration on Irregular Migration. The study is divided into four parts. The first part describes the historical development of the trafficking debate and gives an analysis of the various approaches to trafficking. Part Two focuses on trafficking patterns and responses in the South-East Asian region. It briefly describes the trafficking situation in South-East Asia and then lists the various trafficking responses that have been developed at the regional, sub-regional and bilateral levels. Some attention is paid to policy responses in receiving countries outside the region. Part Three forms the main part of the study and describes the responses that have been developed within the South-East Asian countries. Attention is paid to the different actors, including governments, NGOs, international organizations and international networks, and their policies in relation to counter-trafficking measures. The counter-trafficking measures are, where possible, broadly divided into four categories: juridical,1 prevention, protection and return. Part Four reviews some of the problems most often mentioned in the fight against trafficking and discusses priority areas for the development and strengthening of counter-trafficking programmes and initiatives..."
Creator/author: Annuska Derks
Source/publisher: International Organization for Migration (IOM)
2000-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2010-12-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more
Description: "...Thailand has emerged as the number one destination in cross-border trafficking of children and women. Many children and young women from Myanmar, Cambodia and Lao PDR migrate to Thailand in search of better life. Often their journey leads them to a life of exploitation. A significant percent of these young migrants work in four employment sectors; agriculture, fishing boats and fish processing, manufacturing and domestic work. While they become an integral part of the economy, they remain invisible and face exploitation. Exploitation is widespread and ranges from non-payment or underpayment of wages, a requirement to work excessive hours sometimes involving the use of hazardous equipment - to even more serious violations of forced labour and trafficking..."
Creator/author: Elaine Pearson, Sureeporn Punpuing, Aree Jampaklay, Sirinan Kittisuksathit, Aree Prohmmo
Source/publisher: Mekong Sub-regional Project to Combat Trafficking in Women and Children, ILO
2006-12-13
Date of entry/update: 2008-04-12
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 2.46 MB
more
Description: Substantial and wide-ranging document. "The report aims to indicate ways to strengthen EU action against trafficking in human beings and, where appropriate, to launch new initiatives, programmes and activities..." PREAMBLE: This report is the result of a year?s work of the Experts Group on Trafficking in Human Beings. The main assignment of the Experts Group is to contribute to the translation of the Brussels Declaration into practice, in particular by submitting a report to the European Commission with concrete proposals on the implementation of the recommendations of the Brussels Declaration. The report aims to indicate ways to strengthen EU action against trafficking in human beings and, where appropriate, to launch new initiatives, programmes and activities. The Brussels Declaration, however, has been understood as a ?platform” and not as a ?fence”. We have also taken into account other sources in order to benefit from new developments and findings in particular areas....."
Source/publisher: European Commission via Coat net
2004-12-22
Date of entry/update: 2005-05-28
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
more