Progressing Research and Data Suva, Fiji – 18-20 April 2023
Trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM) are major concerns throughout the Asia- Pacific region, yet, despite the extent of these crimes, both remain under-researched.
From April 18-20, 2023, the Pacific Regional Forum on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants – Progressing Research and Data held in Suva, Fiji, provided a platform to share recent knowledge on data collection and research on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, with experiences and lessons learned from the Pacific.
Mr. Asterio Takashi, Special Assistant from the Office of the Vice President, Ministry of Justice, and Mr. Ronald Ledgerwood from the Micronesian Legal Services Commission (MLSC) shared Palau’s experience in coordinating human trafficking efforts at the forum. Participants at the forum from other Pacific countries representing government, civil society organizations and international agencies, were particularly interested in the standard operating procedures for addressing human trafficking being developed in Palau, and the support provided to trafficking victims to access justice and other services.
Findings from the new Regional Report on the Existing Capacities to Measure Trafficking in Persons in the Pacific Islands, the Fiji National Trafficking in Persons Prevalence Survey and Palau Multiple Systems Estimation (MSE) of Trafficking in Persons Prevalence Study, and from a new research study linking corruption to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants were presented at the forum. [PM1]
The Pacific Regional Forum on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants was officially opened by H.E Marie C. Damour, Ambassador of the United States of America, U.S. Embassy Suva, who was pleased to partner with Pacific countries and agencies in the fight against human trafficking. She emphasized the importance of combatting TIP and migrant smuggling, as it amounts to modern-day slavery and has no place in the 21st century. She stated, “The United States is committed to fighting TIP because trafficking destabilizes societies, it undermines economies, it harms workers who are entitled to make a dignified living, it enriches those who exploit them, it undercuts legitimate business, and most fundamentally, because it is so profoundly wrong.” The Ambassador encouraged all participants, “as modern-day abolitionists to continue to fight for the rights of the oppressed, to fight against injustice and for freedom. Your work against trafficking, helps us all to protect victims, punish offenders, and mitigate the underlying factors that cause vulnerabilities traffickers often target.”
[PM1]If it’s too long, maybe this part could be taken out?
From April 18-20, 2023, the Pacific Regional Forum on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants – Progressing Research and Data held in Suva, Fiji, provided a platform to share recent knowledge on data collection and research on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, with experiences and lessons learned from the Pacific.
Mr. Asterio Takashi, Special Assistant from the Office of the Vice President, Ministry of Justice, and Mr. Ronald Ledgerwood from the Micronesian Legal Services Commission (MLSC) shared Palau’s experience in coordinating human trafficking efforts at the forum. Participants at the forum from other Pacific countries representing government, civil society organizations and international agencies, were particularly interested in the standard operating procedures for addressing human trafficking being developed in Palau, and the support provided to trafficking victims to access justice and other services.
Findings from the new Regional Report on the Existing Capacities to Measure Trafficking in Persons in the Pacific Islands, the Fiji National Trafficking in Persons Prevalence Survey and Palau Multiple Systems Estimation (MSE) of Trafficking in Persons Prevalence Study, and from a new research study linking corruption to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants were presented at the forum. [PM1]
The Pacific Regional Forum on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants was officially opened by H.E Marie C. Damour, Ambassador of the United States of America, U.S. Embassy Suva, who was pleased to partner with Pacific countries and agencies in the fight against human trafficking. She emphasized the importance of combatting TIP and migrant smuggling, as it amounts to modern-day slavery and has no place in the 21st century. She stated, “The United States is committed to fighting TIP because trafficking destabilizes societies, it undermines economies, it harms workers who are entitled to make a dignified living, it enriches those who exploit them, it undercuts legitimate business, and most fundamentally, because it is so profoundly wrong.” The Ambassador encouraged all participants, “as modern-day abolitionists to continue to fight for the rights of the oppressed, to fight against injustice and for freedom. Your work against trafficking, helps us all to protect victims, punish offenders, and mitigate the underlying factors that cause vulnerabilities traffickers often target.”
[PM1]If it’s too long, maybe this part could be taken out?