US, Myanmar vow to combat human trafficking
Published on Thursday, 22 November 2012 22:11
The United States and Myanmar have affirmed their commitment to the global efforts to combat human trafficking, according to a joint plan issued on November 18, one day before US President Barack Obama visited Myanmar.
The plan provides a framework for joint action against all forms of trafficking in persons, including both sex and labour trafficking, whether committed across international borders or wholly within a country's borders.
According to the joint plan, the US government and partner entities will help boost the capacity of Myanmar government officials and civil society partners in jointly identifying cases of forced labour, the illegal recruitment of child soldiers and sex trafficking, by sharing best practices and providing technical assistance and training.
Among the Mekong region countries, Myanmar is recognised as the country undertaking the most robust anti-human trafficking efforts, and the country was removed from Tier 3, the bottom tier of human trafficking watch list, to Tier 2, in the 2012 Trafficking in Persons Report.
The report said the Myanmar government had taken unprecedented steps to address the issues of forced labour and child soldiers, believing that the country would take reform measures for combating human trafficking.
Last July, the government reached an agreement with the United Nations to prevent the recruitment of child soldiers and release underage soldiers.
Myanmar launched four-month educative campaigns in 42 human trafficking-prone townships in January. As a result, monthly human trafficking cases have decreased to less than 10, down from about 15, the Central Body for Anti-trafficking in Persons reported.
Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2012/11/22/us-myanmar-vow-to-combat-human-trafficking/
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