Every week, our global newsletter gives you the latest on critical issues and anti-trafficking efforts around the world. We work closely with our community members to bring you field reports and details of noteworthy initiatives. In addition, our regional monthly newsletters feature updates on local developments, plus contributions from our partners in Asia, Africa and Europe.
A new report ‘Human Trafficking in Post-Covid Vietnam’ from charity Blue Dragon outlines the changes in modern slavery caused by the coronavirus pandemic and governmental attempts to contain it, both in Vietnam and surrounding countries, and recommends how civil society can intervene to protect vulnerable communities.
Read MoreDespite recent improvements, there is still a lot of work to be done to improve the rights of migrant workers in Malaysia. A coalition of NGOs and the Socialist Party of Malaysia have collaborated to produce policy proposals for the government to address these shortcomings.
Read MoreCross Global, an NGO based in southern India, demonstrates how a persistent approach towards the authorities and a policy of holistic care for clients can be a winning formula for addressing the issue of bonded labour.
Read MoreRecent proposals from the Thai government to rollback labour protection for migrant fishermen could be withdrawn in the face of pressure to secure a lucrative trade deal with the European Union.
Read MoreThis month saw two international initiatives to address trafficking for forced criminality – targeted sanctions from the UK government and an international law enforcement operation organized by INTERPOL.
Read MoreRecent announcements about U.S. government-backed funding for NGOs to counter human trafficking in Nepal and undertake a comprehensive academic study into ways to better support Nepali migrant workers indicate that the non-governmental sector is now driving improvements.
Read MoreA recent thematic brief highlights the limitations and risk of relying too heavily on a criminal justice approach to combating human trafficking in Asia and offers complementary approaches that may help address root causes.
Read MoreTrafficking into cyberscam operations in Southeast Asian nations has been making headlines in China, creating a dampening effect on Chinese tourism in the region, pointing to possible wider ramifications.
Read MoreResearchers on migrant workers' access to remedy in Hong Kong SAR China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam have found that greater awareness is needed about how state and non-state grievance mechanisms should work together to create a strong system of accountability.
Read MoreAt the Asia Region Anti-Trafficking Conference this month, representatives from Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, India and Indonesia discussed shifting trends witnessed in recent years, highlighting changing demographics of trafficking victims as well as examples of promising cross-sector partnerships.
Read MoreOnline hate speech is growing in the Asia region and social media companies struggle to manage it, contributing to ethnic, ethno-religious, and gender-based tensions and violence that could heighten trafficking vulnerabilities for marginalized communities.
Read MoreIn the Asia region, countries vary widely in their capacity to provide mental health care support to trafficking survivors, and even Thailand’s more robust health care system demonstrates limitations to the support available.
Read MorePolicy implementation can break down at the district and village level when capacity is lacking, yet the local embeddedness of these actors is also essential to effective anti-trafficking policy. Two case studies from northern Thailand offer examples of strengthening communication flow and coordinated knowledge from the bottom up and the top down.
Read MoreNon-governmental stakeholders in Laos have started to share up-to-date information as part of data aggregation efforts, helping to build a collective base of evidence on human trafficking and unsafe migration routes for more tailored programs and policies.
Read MoreCollaboration between CSOs and government agencies is essential, and though there are sources of friction, promoting an attitude of openness and seeking common goals leads to effective collaboration that provides help in both directions.
Read MoreA recent study of male and trans/third gender youth who trade sex in northern Thailand investigates the potential causes and consequences of the sex trade shifting online. The results raise questions about the efficacy of employment as a preventative factor if available options fail to meet needs.
Read MoreIn a three-day virtual summit, Asia region CTIP professionals gathered to share experiences and insights, and several conversations highlighted the need for even more nuanced understanding.
Read MoreSeveral Western nations are seeking to engage Southeast Asia in strategic partnerships that appear to emphasize, among other things, training and technological exchange in climate change related development, cybersecurity and anti-trafficking measures – a move which may help thread the needle of political sensitivities.
Read MoreCSOs in Asia offer examples of two very different strategies for using tech tools to assist migrant workers in safer migration, highlighting the need to think through organizational strengths, specific goals and the target audience to maximize effectiveness.
Read MoreCivil society organizations perceive disparities in which crises receive attention and funding, which can undermine fairness as well as effectiveness when aid is unpredictable.
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