Awareness on human trafficking increasing: Jahid
| Published on: Friday, June 25, 2010 |
"We did a pilot study too and from the outcome, we will try to adjust some of our approaches," he told reporters during a press conference on the second phase of Campaign Against Human Trafficking: Cross Border Counter Trafficking Project Malaysia-Indonesia at the Pacific Sutera.
He said the public response especially from among parents was very encouraging.
The parents, he said were very inquisitive about the issue, which is only normal for any parents who fear for their children's safety.
According to him, on June 14, Malaysia was upgraded to Tier 2 on the Watch List for trafficking in people based on the 10th Annual Trafficking in Persons Report issued by the US State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (GTIP).
He said Malaysia took a drastic action to improve the nation's image when the GTIP downgraded the country to Tier 3 last year.
Last March, he said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein launched the National Action Plan Against Trafficking in Persons.
"Among the objectives were to strengthen the laws and training including tightening the national borders to address the issue," he said.
Apart from that, he said various efforts have also been carried out to reach the high-risk community by the government together with the NGOs.
Enforcement agencies such as the police, immigration, customs and maritime department, he said have enhanced its efforts to resolve the issue.
As a result of cooperation from all sides, Jahid said they have made several arrests under the Trafficking in Persons Act 2007.
Based on the statistics from Anti Trafficking in Persons Council (MAPO), he said 149 sex exploitation cases were reported in the country between Feb 28, 2008 and Apr 18, this year.
During the period also, there were 42 cases of forced labour, 11 cases of human trafficking, five cases of selling babies and one case of child exploitation for visa, which brings it to 208 cases of trafficking in persons.
"MAPO also recorded that victims from Indonesia obtained the most Protection Order (PO) which is 105," he said.
He said this is followed by Filipinos, 60 victims, Thais, 36, China, 29, Myanmar, 23, Vietnamese, 20, Malaysian, 12, Indian, 6, Cambodians, 2 and Sri Lankans, 2.
This brings to 295 victims that received the Protection Order.
To this, Jahid said the role of the media is very important to disseminate or as medium of information to enhance the level of awareness among the people on the danger of trafficking in persons.
"The media is also the eyes, ears and mouthpiece of the government in this aspect," he said.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO), he said reported that the trafficking in persons crime made profit of US$44.3 billion a year after firearms and drugs.
On other developments, International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) Indonesia National Programme Manager, Fatimana Agustinanto said 150,000 Indonesians enter Sabah from Kalimantan every year.
The ICMC, he said estimated that a minimum of 30,000 Indonesians might have been trafficked into Sabah for sexual exploitation, forced labour and debt bondage, among others.
So, to tackle the problem, he said it needs collaboration between both countries and also the NGOs.
"But this is only a startÉit is an on-going effort and would never stop because trafficking in persons cannot be tackled in one night," he said.
Programme Coordinator for Archdiocesan Human Development Committee (AHDC) of Kota Kinabalu, Dominic Lim said after its awareness programme last year, response has been encouraging.
He said many people at the grassroots still do not know about human trafficking.
In fact, he said many do not know that trafficking in persons is a crime.
But because of Sabah's distance from Kuala Lumpur coupled with its long and porous coastline, he said it is necessary to have a monitoring body to co-ordinate the enforcement agencies.
He said the AHDC awareness programme would be extended to Kota Marudu and Tamparuli.
"We picked Kota Marudu because people from this area are prone to exploitation where many of them have been trafficked to West Malaysia," he said.
To enhance the awareness programme, Lim said there are seven activities and programmes that AHDC would be carrying out:
- Campaigns against human trafficking through radio talkshows and media events by Sabah Champion on Human Trafficking DJ Othoe
- Awareness on issues related to human trafficking through face-to-face events by Champion Othoe with youths in the districts of Kota Marudu, Tamparuli and Keningau
- Capacity building workshops for local NGOs who are offering services to survivors of trafficking (SOP)
- Workshops to develop guidelines to combat debt bondage and trafficking of women and girls to Sabah
- Roundtable discussions between key Sabah and East Kalimantan officials on issues related to debt bondage as conditions of forced labour
- Workshops related to SOP for survivors of trafficking
- Cross-border exchanges between key Sabah and Kalimantan officials to enhance repatriation of trafficking survivors
During the media conference, Jahid also announced Suria FM DJ Othoe as Sabah Champion against Human Trafficking.
http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=73229
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