
Hanoi (VNA) – Australia has pledged 55 million USDto fight human trafficking in Southeast Asia, vowing to tackle "modernslavery" across the region.
The funding is part of a 10-year scheme thatincludes training for police and judges to probe criminal networks, the AFPnews agency quoted Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne as saying at the52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 1.
The initiative will also support jointinternational investigations to help rescue victims and ensure traffickers arecharged, she noted.
Payne added that there are many deep-rootedfactors that enable transnational crime, from corruption through to the unequalstatus of children and other vulnerable groups.
Rising demand for cheap labour, especially inthe fishing and construction industries, has also spurred trafficking networksacross Southeast Asia, according to the official.-VNA