ONLINE WORKSHOP on HUMAN TRAFFICKING

ASIAN CONFERENCE OF RELIGIONS FOR PEACE

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ASIA PACIFIC WOMEN OF FAITH NETWORK

<Three Days Lobby and Advocacy Workshop on 24th – 26th. September, 2024>

DAY 1

After an opening Hindu prayer from Ms. Pooja Manandhar from Nepal, ACRP’s Senior Advisor, Rev. Masamichi Kamiya, acting on behalf of ACRP’s Secretary-General, Rev. Dr. Yoshi Shinohara, who was in Europe on a humanitarian mission, began his welcoming remarks by highlighting the importance of Asia Pacific Women of Faith Network (APWoFN) led by Rev. Elga Sarapung, a Protestant pastor from Jogjakarta and the focus on human trafficking which began at the 2021 Asian Assembly. He emphasized that human trafficking is a major social problem and a national and global phenomenon. It is a problem for each of us, and we can be part of the solution. He concluded, “the findings of this workshop will provide a compass”.

After welcoming the moderator, the secretary-general and the senior adviser, Elga Sarapung stressed the importance of the topic and the need to build on previous work done by the APWoFN. The problem is getting worse and “we want concrete action”. She emphasized the need to strengthen each other and lower the number of victims. The four objectives of the workshop were:

 (1) to make people aware of the evil of human trafficking, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region,

 (2) to share experiences, including lobbying and advocacy efforts,

 (3) to outline the positive outcomes so far achieved together with the challenges and future solutions

 (4) to develop a collaborative networking strategy to strengthen lobbying and future actions.

INDONESIA

There was much emphasis on Indonesia led byMr. Martinus Gabriel Goa, a PADMA legal journalist and a native of the island of Flores who spoke in Bahasa. In Indonesia, human trafficking has reached emergency proportions, especially in sexual servitude with the rise in tourism and with Indonesians being trafficked to other countries such as Malaysia and the Middle East. Victims are coming from Eastern Europe or are the result of online scams. 80,000 had come from the Philippines, Myanmar and other Asian countries.

Regarding lobbying and advocacy, multiple actions had taken place. The Zero Trafficking Network with its Dark Watch platform had been formed but one major problem was the collusion between the trafficking mafia and some law enforcement officers. Some safe houses such as the Good Shepherd Safe House have been founded to provide safe houses for victims as well as Vocational Training Centres. Goa concluded, “a system has not really been developed”.

In a second presentation, he outlined a strategy beginning with the need for collaboration between government, universities and civil organizations in promoting the Anti-Trafficking and Safe Migration Movement, working especially with the Labor Ministry and the Department of Foreign Affairs, especially in repatriating victims from other countries and reintegrating them back into their home country. Secondly, the rescue of and assistance for human trafficked victims with safe houses, especially in Jakarta – the Indonesian Government does not provide any means for caring for victims. Thirdly, the need to lobby government and political parties while the police should be encouraged to add a new Human Trafficking section to their organizational apparatus. This included lobbying the new president and members of parliament. Lastly, the need to form a Division for Publication and Publishing in print and electronic media to produce books and articles. He also mentioned the cooperation with IOM (International Organization for Migration).

A second Indonesian speaker was the legal scholar, Dr. Antonius Wibowo, Deputy Chairman of the Witness and Victim Protection Agency established by the Indonesian Government and which has dealt with 600 victims. The national and local framework was established with a Legal Act to eradicate human trafficking in 2007 with a Presidential Decree in 2008. Six taskforces were set up under two government ministers: (a) TIP (Trafficking in Persons) protection, (b) health rehabilitation, (c) social rehabilitation, (d) repatriation and social reintegration (e) legal norms development and (f) child protection. In 2022 there were 321 cases but in 2023 there were 1,290 cases of request for protection but there are other cases: 951 came from the police, 1162 from non-government organizations and 92 were from the victims themselves. Online trials have been instituted so as to keep witness and victim totally separated from the perpetrator and enabling survivors to testify freely. It has proven very good for victims to obtain justice. In 2020 there was a huge demonstration in Jakarta against human trafficking.

Ms. Sonya Hellen Sinomber, a law graduate and experienced KOMPAS (newspaper and TV network) journalist, shared her experience with her audience, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the media, the government and civil society organizations in eradicating human trafficking. The media sees it as a very serious issue because of the many victims. Journalists face enormous risks and there needs to be well-funded investigative teams, especially in big cases.  As soon as she knows about a case, she informs the police and perhaps the government minister. The police act quickly because of the media breathing down their necks.

JAPAN

Ms. Mariko Yamaoka spoke of the situation in Japan. She is the Director of Not For Sale Japan (NFSJ) which started in Japan in 2011 after initially starting in the USA and now operates in eight countries (www.notforsalecampaign.org). The Japan Network against Trafficking in Persons (JNATIP) began in 2003 and its three main activities are an annual roundtable conference with the Government of Japan, an annual seminar for the general public that focusses on policy and program issues and, thirdly, it submits reports and submissions to UN agencies. She also spoke about the misuse of AI to generate child sexual abuse material.

In early 2000, women were being trafficked into Japan and as a result the penal code was changed and the requirements for an entertainment visa were made more stringent but these measures did not work. Labor trafficking was combatted with the Technical Intern Training Program and this has been a partial success, especially with 18-19 year olds. A major problem has emerged with sexual trafficking with forced sexual performance for online adult videos. JNATIP has helped with victims. A law has been passed and this has been a great success. In its last roundtable meeting with the Government, JNATIP emphasized that punishments were too light, and there was also the need to protect male victims. An emerging issue is the labor exploitation of foreign students. More financial aid for the support organizations was required and public awareness needed to be raised. More commitment was needed to educate government officials as well as more training and more research. The organization also reports to the UN Human Rights Treaty organizations (CEDAW, CERD, ICCPR).

NEPAL

Nepal is a country of 31 million people, set mainly in the Himalayas and 81% Hindu. Ms. Benu Maya Gurung is National Director of AATWIN (Alliance against Trafficking in Women and Children in Nepal), an umbrella organization of 45 member organizations, including eight survivors’ groups. She outlined some of the mechanisms that are used against human trafficking, namely (a) Human Trafficking Act and other relevant acts, (b) Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, (c) Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau with the police, (d) Child Helpline and (e) Children Search Centre.

There was much more that needed to be done:

– incorporate mechanisms for response at three levels of government, including financial support

– improve Human Trafficking Control Act 2007

– domestication of the UN TIP (Palermo) Protocol

– need for a new National Plan of Action against Human Trafficking

– regulations for victim identification, rescue and repatriation

– shelter and protection for all the victim survivors, including men and boys

– closed sessions with survivors to identify the issues

– monitoring of child labor.

She mentioned among the challenges were the changing dimensions and trends of human trafficking as a key priority; recognition of the low socioeconomic conditions of the women and girls; the unsafe migration and foreign employment; serial stigma and lack of acceptance by family and society upon repatriation; the difficulty of the reintegration and repatriation of survivors; the use of social media and technology by the traffickers; the open border with India facilitating trafficking; the use of relatives for transportation of victims and access to justice with a victim-friendly system. Trafficking to Japan was a particular problem. Lastly, she mentioned the huge gap in the statistics.

INDIA

The speaker for India was Mr. Joseph Mathews, Head of the Child Rights Section of Caritas India. India is hoping to become a developed country by 2047. He said that it is estimated that globally about 27 million people have been trafficked but only 2 per cent of cases lead to conviction.  180 (92%) countries have ratified the UN Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons. Countries are ranked. Tier One countries such as Australia and the Republic of Korea have met minimum standards; Tier Two countries such as India and South Africa have not met the highest standards but are making sufficient progress. Tier Two Watch countries such as Hong Kong and Nepal are making progress but prevalence might be on the rise and Tier Three countries such as Afghanistan and Russia have not met minimum standards and are not making significant efforts.

In 2020, in India 1,714 cases were investigated with 6,622 victims, 5156 labor trafficked victims and 1,416 sex trafficked victims. There was a 11% conviction rate. Females were 30 per cent more likely to be trafficked. Push factors were climate change factors, especially in locations with high risk of floods, cyclones and droughts. Sociocultural factors such as the caste system, patriarchal social practices, gender-based violence, persecution and cross-regional marriage and economic backwardness where there is debt and poverty. 43% per cent of cases were for forced labor, 33% for sexual exploitation and the rest for other reasons such as domestic servitude, begging, removal of organs, child pornography and forced marriage. Cheap labor was needed in bricklin, agriculture, rice mills, cotton seed production, embroidery, stone quarries, spinning industry and others. The traffickers groom the victims and their families by a large financial advance, counselling or peer pressure, promising jobs and a good life, use of the digital media and so on.

Rajasthan is the state with the highest incidence followed by Odisha, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. In fact, India had made good, consistent progress with good coordination through the Ministry for Home Affairs and through socially highlighting that trafficking is a serious crime, including the launch of a Crime Multi-Agency Centre, a communication platform for dissemination of information about significant crimes, including human trafficking.

Included among the existing challenges are the lack of reporting from 22 of India’s 36 states, the inadequate efforts to audit government-funded shelter homes, non-existent repatriation processes with many countries, delay in compensation to victims, post-rescue challenges and registration of cases as ‘missing’ or ‘kidnapped’ instead of  ‘trafficked’. As well as the roles of government, the legal fraternity have to be trained, the financial sector be aware with online payment channels, digital payments and crypto currencies.

PHILIPPINES

Ms. Mary Girlie Glen Tupas from the International Justice Mission Philippines and supported by Alan Alegre  began by quoting from the Gospel of John, “The thief only comes to steal, to slaughter, to destroy. I have come so that they may have life, and have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10, 10). IJM is an interfaith collaborative organization, 11 years in operation in the Philippines. She began by drawing attention to the huge growth of Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC). In 2022, it is estimated that almost half a million children (about 1 in every 100 children) were newly trafficked to produce child sexual exploitation materials; 41% of parents and a further 41% of relatives are the perpetrators because they are offered money. 384 suspects were arrested and 219 were convicted.

An anti-trafficking law was passed in 2003 and amendments were made in 2012 covering money laundering, online scams, child trafficking and prostitution in the tourism industry. Further amendments were made in 2013 relating to online sexual abuse and exploitation materials in child sexual abuse. A law covers the requirements that local government must provide after-care services. Foster care was only in 2012 introduced into the Philippines. The Philippine Survivor Network had been formed. Alan Alegre spoke about IJM’s role in advocacy and lobbying.

Ms. Haidi Fajardo explained that traffickers use cryptocurrency to transfer funds across borders, complicating efforts to track and disrupt their operations.

DAY 2-3

Day Two began with a summation of Day One by Ms. Jamby Djusubalieva from Krygyzstan and the day was facilitated by Sister Genobeba Amaral from Timor Leste who said that her government gives no support to combat human trafficking in Timor Leste. Ms. Jamby Djusubalieva summarized the first day by highlighting the complexities of trafficking networks, noting that perpetrators often operate within well-organized and hidden international syndicates. These groups have become increasingly sophisticated, utilizing emerging technologies to expand their reach. The victims, predominantly young males, children and young women remain at the forefront of this crisis. Ms. Jamby emphasized that civil society organizations have been the most effective in tackling the issue, focusing particularly on the root causes that drive migration such as economic hardship.

AUSTRALIA

Professor Des Cahill reported on the Australian context where human trafficking is seen through the lens of modern slavery. The Government’s Australian Institute for Health and Welfare, drawing on data from the Australian Federal Police, reported that in 2022-23 there were 340 reported cases led by forced marriage (90 reports), sexual servitude and exploitation (73), forced labor (43) and trafficking in persons (38) leading the 12 categories used by the police. Since the 70 cases reported in 2013-14, each year since has seen a reported rise. It is estimated that for every reported case there are an estimated 4 undetected victim survivors. 83% of victims are female and 30% of cases involve sexual exploitation in commercial settings. Forced marriage became an offence in 2013. Since 2003 a support program for trafficked people has been offered by the Red Cross but not all victims availed themselves of this service.

MALAYSIA

Dr. Poey Tiang Peow, Secretary-General of Religions for Peace Malaysia and a researcher from the International Islamic University Malaysia, tabled his paper on Exploring the Ways to Overcome Human Trafficking in Malaysia. The Malaysian Government has been heavily involved in combatting human trafficking. It has reached Tier Two status, and is hoping to soon reach Tier One status. In the first half of 2024 137 victims were rescued, including 52 children who had been exploited as labor. The number of cases has been declining since the peak of 465 cases in 2016. A particular problem has been gaining the cooperation from victims who say to police, “If I help you, and give cooperation to you when I go back to the village no one will help us. We owe the syndicate so much money. What about my family’s position and guarantee for their safety?” The police are not particularly well-trained in dealing with such cases, and a special unit needs to be formed.

Malaysia has signed Memorandums of Understanding with many countries while the Ministry of Home Affairs has worked to prevent trafficking, especially aimed at foreign nationals in Malaysia. The rise of social networks has increased people’s vulnerability, especially of young women who are the main target. One solution has been for parents to provide their children with emergency alarms so as their presence can be detected. Access to shelters has been increased.

SOUTH KOREA

Ms. Christina Lee from South Korea began by speaking about Saint Josephine Bakita (c.1869 – 1947), the patron saint of slave victims. She was abducted as a small child in 1877 in the Darfur region of modern-day Sudan by Arab slave traders and was sold on three separate occasions, eventually being sold to the Italian Deputy Consul who took her back to Italy where she lived for the next 45 years as a religious nun. She survived World War II and died in 1947.

The South Korean experience is that the main causes are injustice and vulnerability, particularly where victims escape domestic violence leading to escape from their family and village. Economic disparity and the rise of social media had increased the incidence. In combatting the evil, networking was very important and the sharing of information across the whole country, including using the media. The participation of local schools in protecting children was also important. Important also are call centres.

CONCLUSION

Ms. Heidi Fajardo, Deputy Secretary-General of Religions for Peace Philippines, drew attention to the increasingly sophisticated digital techniques making detection more difficult, especially in the online sexual exploitation of children. It was also difficult to convict perpetrators, especially when borders are crossed and there are different legal frameworks. She drew attention to the connection between migration, displacement and human trafficking. Collaboration needed to be enhanced.

Dr. Deepali Bhanoth from India drew attention to its Women’s Development Centre. ACRP needed to develop a toolkit and for increased liaison with researchers. Capacity-building needed to be done in hotspot areas. Another issue is: how do we involve religious leaders?

Participants agreed that networking is essential in sustaining efforts against trafficking. Ms. Enko Komiyama highlighted the importance of consulting with experts to develop comprehensive training modules and the need for international organizations including WCRP and Europe and Africa, ensuring the the fight against human trafficking remains a global effort. This could include umbrella religious organizations such as the World Hindu Council 9India), the Christian Council of Asia (Chiangmai) and the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (Bangkok)  to strengthen advocacy at the regional and national levels.

In her concluding remarks, Rev. Elga Sarapung expressed gratitude for the insights shared throughout the workshop. She stressed the importance of developing a follow-up plan with concrete actions, including the creation of publications, reports and media content to raise awareness. She also highlighted the potential of producing short films to convey the human impact of trafficking and inspire action.

In his closing remarks, Professor Cahill in his role of Moderator, commented how much he had learned. He pointed to the huge gaps in statistics and the need for collaboration with university researchers. He specifically thanked Rev. Elga Sarapung for her groundbreaking leadership of the workshop, and ACRP was heavily indebted to her. He also thanked Ms. Minako Idei from the Tokyo Secretariat for her guidance and facilitation over the three days.

The workshop concluded with a prayer from Dr. Yin Yin Maw, Secretary-General of Religions for Peace Myanmar.

This report was prepared by Prof. Desmond Cahill and Ms. Syafira Anisa