[child-rights] UNICEF hails worlds first regional agreement on human trafficking

UNICEF Press release

Greater Mekong Sub-Region commits to fight human trafficking

YANGON, MYANMAR, 29 October 2004 – Today ministers from China, Cambodia,
Thailand, Lao PDR, Viet Nam and Myanmar signed a landmark memorandum of
understanding that sets forth a framework of action to fight human
trafficking.

The six nations of the Greater Mekong Sub-Region have committed themselves
to coordinated action on trafficking prevention, law enforcement, the
prosecution of traffickers, and the recovery, reintegration and support of
trafficking victims.

“This is an important step forward in our joint efforts to fight human
trafficking and the suffering it leaves in its wake,” said Carroll Long,
UNICEF Representative in Myanmar.  “UNICEF applauds the commitment of the
region’s countries in joining together to combat this scourge that’s
destroying children’s lives and ripping families apart.”

UNICEF-supported studies indicate that some 1.2 million children around
the globe are trafficked every year.  Approximately one-third of all
trafficking in women and children takes place from and within the East
Asia region.

Human trafficking takes many forms, including forced marriage,
exploitative labor and domestic service, and prostitution.

“While not all trafficking involves commercial sexual exploitation, this
is an all- too-frequent phenomenon,” noted UNICEF Representative Carroll
Long.

Children are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation, with surveys
indicating that approximately one third of those involved in prostitution
in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region are between 12 and 17 years of age.
Most victims of commercial sexual exploitation are women and girls.

“Children and women forced into the commercial sex industry suffer
particularly acute trauma, and the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the
region places their lives in severe peril,” said Ms. Long.  “UNICEF
especially focuses its efforts on protecting these most vulnerable
children and youth.”

In Myanmar and the Greater Mekong Sub-Region, UNICEF and its many partners
– all of which coordinate their activities as members of the UN
Inter-Agency Project on Trafficking (UNIAP) – support a range of actions
to combat human trafficking and create a protective environment for
children.  UNICEF-supported activities in the region include the
reintegration of trafficking victims, psychosocial support services for
these victims, support for community-level prevention activities,
education services, and the enhancement of legal protections.

In Myanmar, UNICEF is working in partnership with communities, NGOs and
others to train community officials, teachers, Parent-Teachers
Associations and other civil society groups in trafficking prevention, and
to reintegrate trafficked victims in their home communities, thanks to
funding provided by the Government of Japan.

Next Steps

Officials at today’s meeting confirmed that in early 2005, a Regional Plan
of Action on trafficking will be enacted based upon the framework set
forth in today’s MOU.

“We welcome the commitment of these countries to begin forging an action
plan to address the many factors that give rise to human trafficking in
the region, including economic disparity, a lack of educational
opportunities, gender bias, and the breakdown of traditional family
support mechanisms,” said Ms. Long.




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