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ASEAN to Establish A Regional Network to Prevent Human Trafficking

A regional focal network in the ASEAN region will be set up to prevent and combat human trafficking, according to the ASEAN Declaration against Trafficking in Persons, Particularly Women and Children.

The document was adopted by ASEAN heads of state at the 10th ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos PDR on 29 November 2004.

According to the declaration, the ASEAN countries will take measures to protect the integrity of their respective passports, official travel documents, identity and other official travel documents from fraud will be taken, and to undertake exchanges of views and information sharing on relevant migratory flows, trends and pattern, strengthening of border controls and monitoring mechanisms, and the enactment of applicable and necessary legislation.

They also agreed to intensify cooperation among respective immigration and other laws enforcement authorities, and to distinguish victims of trafficking in persons from the perpetrators as well as to identify the countries of origin and nationalities of such victims.

In addition, these countries confirmed that they undertake coercive actions or measures against individual and/or syndicate engaged in trafficking in persons and will offer one another the widest possible assistance to punish such activities.

They will also take measures to strengthen regional and international cooperation to prevent and combat human trafficking.¹

¹Adapted from http://www.vnagency.com.vn