2007/04/30
Suhakam calls for national anti-human trafficking plan
KUALA LUMPUR, mon:
THE Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) today called for a comprehensive national plan of action to combat human trafficking and for the protection of human rights.
Its secretary, Ahmad Yusuf Ngah, said that such a plan should incorporate prevention and awareness programmes, mechanism for victim identification, protection, care and support as well as training of enforcement groups.
“We also need to ensure that victims are protected from discriminatory and prejudiced treatment...and have adequate access to counselling and healthcare services as well as rehabilitation,” he said.
He said Suhakam welcomed the tabling of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill in Parliament on April 24. “The move to protect victims from criminal prosecution and protection to whistle-blowers would further encourage collective efforts on the part of government agencies and the civil society which would hopefully facilitate in exposing hidden syndicates,” he said.
Noting that the illicit movement of persons within and into Malaysia was a growing problem, he said it was reported that in 2004, a total of 371 foreign women were rescued by the authorities. The victims would invariably end up in forced labour situations, prostitution, marriages and other illicit employments.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/NewsBreak/20070430162539/Article/index_html
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