Legal system subject of human trafficking meeting

Vientiane Times, 14.03.2007

The workshop, entitled 'Strengthening law enforcement institution to prevent and combat human trafficking ', will run until March 16, and is the second such workshop held in Vientiane, the first being last December.

Those attending come from line ministries, the diplomatic corps and international organisations.

"The workshop is focusing on conventions and protocols concerning trans-national organised crime, human trafficking, migrant movement and Lao law on human trafficking prevention measures," said the Deputy Minister of Justice, Mr Ket Kiettisack.

He said the workshop would attempt to increase people's ability to detect human trafficking though a practical and realistic case study approach.

The workshop will also emphasise the need to adopt and amend legal provisions to implement the 'Trafficking in Persons Protocol' within the Lao legal context.

This is necessary to enhance the capacity for a coordinated and unified response to the global challenge of ending human trafficking.

'Human trafficking is a major problem in Laos, but we have laws we can use as weapons to fight it. UNODC supports our efforts, and also assists in strengthening the criminal law for adoption by the National Assembly", Mr Ket said.

He added that after the workshop, the ministry would bring its content and recommendations to staff in local areas.

"Slavery has existed for hundreds, if not thousand of years. While commonly thought to be a part of history, it has reappeared as the world has changed dramatically over the last 10 to 20 years, in what we now call 'human trafficking or trafficking in persons', said an Associate Expert from UNODC, Mr. Richard Philippart.

He said human trafficking was one of the worst violations of human rights which the UN confronts, and was not only widespread but growing as well.

According to Mr Philippart, some estimate that between 700,000 and two million people are trafficked globally each year, and this outnumbers the historical figures the UN has regarding slavery.

He explained that South East Asia was often seen as source region for trafficking, and the situation in Laos was of great concern, as being a potential source, transit or destination.

According to a press release, the UNODC has a crime prevention mandate and leads the UN's efforts on crime prevention, criminal justice and criminal law reform.

It is also the custodian of the Palermo Convention and its underlying Protocols, Mr Philippart said.

The UN Convention Against Trans-National Organised Crime, or the Palermo Convention, took place in Palermo, Sicily, from December 12-15, 2000. It adopted two protocols viewed as being a major step forward in international cooperation against human trafficking; the protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and the protocol against the smuggling of migrants by land, sea or air.

UNODC provides financial and technical assistance to governments in addressing international drug and crime problems through projects on a global, regional and local scale, Mr. Philippart added.

"Laos is party to the Palermo Convention and Protocols and is committed to addressing the problem of human trafficking vigorously. We assist the Lao government to implement the trafficking in persons protocol and to combat, as such, human trafficking", he said.

Panyasith Thammavongsa