Today I’m writing about something a little closer to the heart: Malaysia
Recently, the U.S. State Department in its annual Trafficking in Persons Report 2009 (page 197) downgraded Malaysia from Tier 2 to Tier 3, blacklisting it worldwide along with 16 other counties for not enforcing human trafficking laws. Malaysia currently joins other blacklisted countries such as Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Niger and Burma.
Malaysia has been facing constant scrutiny for its lack of regard of the abuse and exploitation of migrant workers and has had its ranking hovering between Tier 2 and 3 for the last 10 years. In 2001, it was blacklisted, but improved its ranking to Tier 2 for the following years. However, in 2007, it was downgraded once again to Tier 2, and in 2008, after the enactment of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007, Malaysia regained its status as a Tier 2 country.Tier 3 countries face possible sanctions such as the withholding of non-humanitarian, non-trade related U.S. aid and funding for government officials to participate in educational and cultural exchange programs.
As a response to the downgrade, two new divisions have been established under the Home Ministry. They are the International Division and the Research, Development and Monitoring Division.
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This is my HOPE to my country:
That we would address this issue with the respect and the seriousness that it deserves — the effectiveness of long-term prevention and improvement requires a commitment to reforms, policies and Acts.
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From the Trafficking in Persons Report 2009 :
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The International Labor Organization (ILO)—the United Nations agency charged with addressing labor standards, employment, and social protection issues—estimates that there are at least 12.3 million adults and children in forced labor, bonded labor, and commercial sexual servitude at any given time.
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Of these victims, the ILO estimates that at least 1.39 million are victims of commercial sexual servitude, both transnational and within countries. According to the ILO, 56 percent of all forced labor victims are women and girls.
Image from Google images: http://vietnameseworkersabroad.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/human-wrists1.jpg
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“The root causes of migration and trafficking greatly overlap. The lack of rights afforded to women serves as the primary causative factor at the root of both women’s migrations and trafficking in women…By failure to protect and promote women’s civil, political, economic and social rights, governments create situations in which trafficking flourishes.”
Radhika Coomaraswamy, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women
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