UNODC and Lao PDR Fight Human Trafficking Together

29 October 2007 - The Laotian government and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have launched a project to increase the abilities of the country's law enforcement authorities in combating human trafficking.

"The Lao PDR is party to the Palermo Convention and protocols and is committed to address the problem of human trafficking vigorously," Richard Philippart, UNODC Lao PDR legal expert, said.

Trafficking in persons is a serious crime and a growing issue of concern in the Lao PDR. Regional economic disparities, limited domestic opportunities and media influence are the main causes for migration.

The Lao PDR is among the world's poorest countries and shares a long, porous border with more prosperous Thailand. The lack of familiarity with customs, laws and practices make people vulnerable to exploitation and exposes them to the risk of being trafficked by unscrupulous employers or others they trust.

"Trafficking in human beings has become one of the most profitable activities of organised crime groups worldwide. Organised crime requires an organised response and the necessary legal structure to provide this response," Mr. Philippart noted

"Human trafficking does not respect borders. Our response requires strong and committed cooperation. Judiciary and law enforcement networks must prove that they can be stronger, more connected and more efficient than criminal networks," he pointed out, before adding: "An equally transnational approach must apply to protecting and rescuing the victims of trafficking, particularly the most vulnerable, who are usually women and children."

The project, entitled "Strengthening of the Legal and Law Enforcement Institutions to Prevent and Combat Human Trafficking", aims at improving the capacity of the criminal justice institutions, including the judiciary, and the government law enforcement bodies to prevent and combat human trafficking and related forms of organised crime.

It particularly assesses the needs to implement the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, particularly Women and Children (TIPP) and the mandatory requirements of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (TOC).

"The main objective is to implement these two international legal instruments and enhance the criminal justice mechanisms and law enforcement against trafficking in human beings", Mr. Philippart said.

Included in the project are proposed amendments to the criminal law provisions, training for criminal justice practitioners and law enforcement in order to strengthen the country's capacity to investigate, prosecute, convict traffickers and protect victims.

Statistics on human trafficking in the Lao PDR are lacking, but between 200,000 and 450,000 people are estimated to be trafficked annually from and within the Greater Mekong Region. The Lao PDR is a source and transit country for human trafficking, with 90 percent of the cross-border trafficking occurring into Thailand.

The population of Laos counts 5.5 million inhabitants, with 55 percent being under 19 years of age. As such, approximately 60,000 young people try to enter the labour force each year, but employment opportunities are scarce and there is a high risk of them becoming victims of human trafficking.

UNODC is one of the six founding members of UN.GIFT.