Regional workshop on human trafficking prevention
Hanoi (VNA) – A regional workshop on
prevention strategies to combat trafficking in persons, especially for women
and children, and enhance access to information and community-based protection
system was held in Hanoi on June 21-22.
The event was jointly held by the ASEAN
Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), ASEAN National
Secretariat of Vietnam, ASEAN-US Partnership for Good Governance, Equitable and
Sustainable Development and Security (PROGRESS), and the governments of
Australia and Turkey.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Assistant
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau reiterated the
determination of the Vietnamese government to continue implementing effectively
policies and measures to prevent human trafficking.
He called for stronger regional and
international cooperation and mobilisation of financial resources to promote
efforts in the field.
Participants said the prevention of human trafficking
needs the joint efforts of governments, relevant agencies, organisations and
individuals in the society.
They encourage the participation of the involved
parties in consulting and implementing policies related to anti-trafficking of
persons to build a people-centred ASEAN community.
The workshop put forth some recommendations to
enhance the efficiency of prevention strategies and emphasised on such regional
and international commitments as the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in
Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP), ASEAN Plan of Action Against
Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (APA), Bohol Trafficking
in Persons (TIP) Work Plan 2017-2020, the United Nations Convention against
Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC), and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress
and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children.
These are foundation documents and necessary
tools to strengthen cooperation in human trafficking prevention, heard the
workshop.
Founded in 1967, the 10-member ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA