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Six Asian Countries Cooperate in Fight Against Human Trafficking

March 31, 2005

Government officials and police chiefs of six countries along Southeast Asia’s Mekong River have agreed on an action plan to fight human trafficking and help victims return to normal lives on 31 March 2005. The member countries of the Greater Mekong Sub-region - Cambodia, China, Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam - will collaborate on investigation and prosecution of traffickers as well as on supporting repatriation and help for victims. The Hanoi meeting, joined by donors, diplomats and international organizations, followed the signing of an agreement by the six countries in Burma in October 2004 in which they pledged to take action against the crime.

During the meeting, the Asian Development Bank announced US$100,000 for a regional training centre on human trafficking, to begin work later this year.

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¹ Adapted from "Six Asian Countries to co-operate in fight against human trafficking." ABC Radio Australia, 31 March 2005; "Six Asian nations act to stop human trafficking." Reuters, 31 March 2005.