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Event Detail

Illegal Labour Movements: The Case of Trafficking in Women and Children Bangkok, Thailand

Event Details

The Mekong Regional Law Center convened a conference on "Illegal Labor Movement: the Case of Trafficking in Women and Children," that took place in November 28 29, 2002 in Bangkok. The conference was supported by The Asia Foundation, IOM, UNICEF, UN IAP and Thai agencies, such as the Permanent Secretary, the Department of Social Development and Welfare, and the Office of the Court of Justice.

This two day conference brought together 140 participants from the six Mekong countries: Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Vietnam, and Thailand. The majority of participants were government delegates. Among the many notables attending the conference was Dr. Saisuree Chutikul of Thailand (Vice chairperson UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and chairperson of the Thai National committee on Combating Trafficking in women and Children), Ms. H.E. You Ay of Cambodia (Secretary of State, Ministry of Women's and Veteran's Affairs) and H.E. Prak Chantha of Cambodia (Secretary of State, Ministry of Social Affairs, Labor, Vocational Training and Youth Rehabilitation).

The first day, each group of government representatives reviewed their progress against commitments made at the first Mekong regional conference in 1997 and shared future plans. Each delegation presented papers to provide other country delegations with an understanding of the obstacles and difficulties faced by their country. The second day, participants assessed alternatives for regional and bilateral cooperation focusing on law enforcement, victim protection, and repatriation of trafficked persons. Country delegations did not agree on a common definition of trafficking in persons, which some understood simply as illegal migration.

The conference provided an opportunity for officials to express their opinions freely and allowed representatives to explore issues that have not yet been considered by their governments. During the conference, government and non government representatives participated in advocacy meetings between and among countries to discuss detailed procedures for developing of closer regional cooperation. The official delegations adopted recommendations for improved regional cooperation and agreed to take these recommendations to the responsible government bodies in their own country for consideration and action.