Asean launches handbook to fight human trafficking

MANILA, Philippines - Senior officials of the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) launched a handbook on human trafficking in the region.

The ASEAN handbook on International Legal Cooperation in Trafficking in Persons Cases was launched to inform the people of the severity of human trafficking cases in the region and steps on how to control it, Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno said.

Puno said the ASEAN Handbook was meant to enhance regional cooperation on human trafficking cases.

The handbook was launched during the weeklong 10th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) in Makati City.

Puno said the handbook was developed with the support of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) through the Asia Regional Trafficking in Persons Project (ARTIP), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

He described the handbook as a landmark document in the area of regional cooperation among the members of ASEAN.

The handbook is a breakthrough in the effort to fight against trafficking in persons not only in Southeast Asia region but worldwide as well, he said.

“I am confident that the publication of this handbook will further promote the harmonization of relevant national policies and programs on trafficking in persons among ASEAN countries, and strengthen institutional linkages among the various ASEAN mechanisms involved in combating trafficking in persons,” Puno said.

Puno said the launching of the handbook was meaningful for the Philippines, which has been chosen as the Lead Shepherd for Trafficking in Persons in the Southeast Asia region.

ASEAN secretary-general Dr. Surin Pitsuwan said the handbook was unique and aimed at judicial training of prosecutors and other criminal justice officials at national level, who are likely to be involved in informal or formal requests for regional international cooperation.

Pitsuwan said the handbook has a comprehensive series of training materials for criminal justice professionals including judges, prosecutors, investigators and front line law enforcement officials.

“We, in ASEAN, have shown a capacity to change and an ability for innovation. I have no doubt that we can continue to work steadily towards our avowed goal of ending impunity for traffickers and secure justice for those who have been wronged,” Pitsuwan added.

Australian Ambassador Rod Smith, for his part, said the document is a groundbreaking achievement for ASEAN.

He said this is the first time that ASEAN member-states have developed a practical guide that “will undoubtedly improve how people trafficking cases are investigated and prosecuted in the region.”

In introducing the handbook, ASEAN Secretariat Deputy Secretary General for Community and Corporate Affairs Bagas Hapsoro acknowledged the scale of the challenges currently facing national criminal justice agencies in dealing with this complex crime.

“This handbook seeks to change this situation by promoting the type of cooperation that will ensure that there are no safe havens for traffickers or their assets,” he said.