Malaysia moved up to Level 2 of the US human trafficking report
https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/
25/06/2024
Malaysia moved up to Level 2 of the US human trafficking report
Malaysia was upgraded to Level 2 in the United States Department of State's (JNAS) Report on Trafficking in Persons in 2024 announced in Washington, on Monday. - Named file image
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia was upgraded to Level 2 in the United States Department of State's (JNAS) Report on Trafficking in Persons in 2024 which was announced in Washington, on Monday.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN), the increase is strategic and significant because Malaysia was previously assessed at Level 3 Observation in 2023 and the last time it was at Level 2 was in 2017.
According to the KDN, this success is the result of the efforts of various stakeholders who also make meaningful and continuous contributions in making the agenda to combat human trafficking in Malaysia a success.
"Among the significant achievements recorded are an increase in the number of investigations, convictions of cases with significant punishments, awareness programs, prosecutions of civil servants, increased prosecutions of labor trafficking cases, distribution of allocations to shelters as well as increased approval of free movement permits for victims of human trafficking.
"This report also outlines 16 improvement points and action plans that can be implemented by Malaysia for the following year's assessment, which is from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
"Furthermore, this report also records new improvement matters, which is to provide victim-centered services to all those who need their participation in criminal proceedings without conditions," said the Ministry of Interior in a statement released on Tuesday.
Level 2 is defined as not fully meeting US minimum standards in eliminating human trafficking, but there are significant efforts to comply.
The decrease in the level brings the risk of the country's exports being potentially blocked.
Commenting further, the KDN said that there are three main focuses that have been planned to guide the direction of the implementation of the country's efforts, namely improving cooperation between agencies, intensifying efforts to identify and protect victims and improving the prosecution process.
Accordingly, the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (MAPO) led by the KDN together with other Government Ministries and Agencies is committed to implementing actions in combating the crime of human trafficking in Malaysia including in dealing with the latest trends involving employment fraud and incidents of neglected workers.
"Efforts to eradicate human trafficking require the close cooperation of various stakeholders.
"Therefore, KDN and MAPO are open to join hands with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), international organizations, foreign diplomatic representatives, academics and employers in dealing with this issue through a comprehensive national approach.
"This commitment is expected to produce significant initiatives based on the core of legislation, enforcement, protection and prevention across the functions of stakeholders that can increase efforts to combat the crime of human trafficking in Malaysia," he said.
