Source:The Malay Mail
Panellists to discuss issue as Malaysia looks for solutions to face challenge
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 06, 2012 - 12:16
Location:
PETALING JAYA
CLARK: Hopes lawyers can offer services to human trafficking victims
MALAYSIA has been grappling with human trafficking problems for a long time.
It remains on the Tier 2 Watch List, according to the 2012 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report issued by the US Department of State, based on a country’s compliance with the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act 2000 (TVPA).
The report says Malaysia is a major destination point for trafficked people and, to a lesser extent, a transit point for men, woman and children, who are either trapped in forced labour or sex trafficking.
Trafficked victims are among the two million documented and 1.9 million undocumented foreign workers in Malaysia and they have migrated from such countries as Indonesia, Nepal, India, Thailand, China, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Vietnam in search of bettter economic opportunities.
LexisNexis Asia chief executive officer Shawn Clark told The Malay Mail the government has to deal with “a different set of challenges” when it comes to its role as a transit point for trafficking.
“The challenge is to find solutions that work in Malaysia. We can’t simply adopt a method of solutions that other countries have successfully employed and implement it here because the scenario here is different," he said.
“Looking at the Home Ministry’s efforts so far, there is a clear improvement from an enforcement perspective.”
Clark said as Malaysia’s antitrafficking law was relatively new, prosecution could be more forthcoming and would work with the government on policies that could be strengthened.
“Malaysia seems to be a transit point which serves a different set of challenges to the government and society. It takes enforcement and prosecution to help solve the problem, so the officers that work on the ground also need to be educated on the laws," he said.
LexisNexis is embarking on its own effort to shed light on this important issue plaguing the Malaysian society.
The event, titled Bringing Human Trafficking To Light, will see panellists from various nongovernmental agencies dedicated to the fight against human trafficking and forced labour discuss matters related to human trafficking on Saturday.
They include Good Shepherd Welfare Centre executive director Theresa Symons, and International Labour Organisation's (ILO) national project coordinator for the ILO TRIANGLE project Anni Santhiago.
The discussions will be moderated by Coalition to Abolish Modern-Day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA) country manager Daniel Lo.
LexisNexis is also a sponsor of the documentary film Not My Life, depicting the dangerous practices of human trafficking and modern-day slavery on a global scale.
It will be screened at the event, followed by the panel discussion.
Clark hoped the event would spark discussions and possibly encourage lawyers to contribute their services pro bono to human trafficking victims.
“We also aim to raise funds via ticket sales to the event and donations. Our goal is to raise RM10,000 from the event," he said.
Tickets are on sale at www.theactorsstudio.com.my or log on to www.lexisnexis.com. my. To make donations, emailgaythri.raman@lexisnexis.com.
The report says Malaysia is a major destination point for trafficked people and, to a lesser extent, a transit point for men, woman and children, who are either trapped in forced labour or sex trafficking.
Trafficked victims are among the two million documented and 1.9 million undocumented foreign workers in Malaysia and they have migrated from such countries as Indonesia, Nepal, India, Thailand, China, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Vietnam in search of bettter economic opportunities.
LexisNexis Asia chief executive officer Shawn Clark told The Malay Mail the government has to deal with “a different set of challenges” when it comes to its role as a transit point for trafficking.
“The challenge is to find solutions that work in Malaysia. We can’t simply adopt a method of solutions that other countries have successfully employed and implement it here because the scenario here is different," he said.
“Looking at the Home Ministry’s efforts so far, there is a clear improvement from an enforcement perspective.”
Clark said as Malaysia’s antitrafficking law was relatively new, prosecution could be more forthcoming and would work with the government on policies that could be strengthened.
“Malaysia seems to be a transit point which serves a different set of challenges to the government and society. It takes enforcement and prosecution to help solve the problem, so the officers that work on the ground also need to be educated on the laws," he said.
LexisNexis is embarking on its own effort to shed light on this important issue plaguing the Malaysian society.
The event, titled Bringing Human Trafficking To Light, will see panellists from various nongovernmental agencies dedicated to the fight against human trafficking and forced labour discuss matters related to human trafficking on Saturday.
They include Good Shepherd Welfare Centre executive director Theresa Symons, and International Labour Organisation's (ILO) national project coordinator for the ILO TRIANGLE project Anni Santhiago.
The discussions will be moderated by Coalition to Abolish Modern-Day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA) country manager Daniel Lo.
LexisNexis is also a sponsor of the documentary film Not My Life, depicting the dangerous practices of human trafficking and modern-day slavery on a global scale.
It will be screened at the event, followed by the panel discussion.
Clark hoped the event would spark discussions and possibly encourage lawyers to contribute their services pro bono to human trafficking victims.
“We also aim to raise funds via ticket sales to the event and donations. Our goal is to raise RM10,000 from the event," he said.
Tickets are on sale at www.theactorsstudio.com.my or log on to www.lexisnexis.com. my. To make donations, emailgaythri.raman@lexisnexis.com.
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