Trafficking responses at the national level

Largely based on the awareness that the various countries in South-East Asia are affected differently by the problem of trafficking, these countries have also developed different approaches and responses to counter the problem. These responses are not only dependent upon whether the country is mainly a sending, receiving or transit country, but also on economic, political, socio-cultural and historical factors. An overview of the responses that have been developed on the national level of the countries in South-East Asia follows below. The countries have been divided into three groups in order to show interrelations, differences and similarities regarding the problem of and responses to trafficking. Thus, the countries of the Mekong region, the major labour sending countries Philippines and Indonesia, and the major receiving countries Singapore and Malaysia will be discussed together. The responses are discussed under the sub-headings of laws and the legal system, prevention, protection, and return and reintegration, though several initiatives may actually fit in more than one of these categories. It has to be noted, furthermore, that though this overview intends to give as broad a picture of the various responses within the individual countries as possible, it does not aim to give a detailed listing of all projects and actors involved. A selection, based on the information available, was made of special initiatives and those which more or less represent the larger spectrum of counter-trafficking initiatives.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions