Myanmar to implement subregional plan to curb human trafficking

YANGON -- Myanmar will draw and implement a subregional action plan for the year 2014-18 in collaboration with ASEAN members and China in its increased effort to crack down on human trafficking, according to the Central Body for Suppression of Trafficking in Persons (CBSTP) Sunday.

Myanmar has taken part in the program of the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (CoMMIT) in cooperation with the six Mekong regional member countries.

The plan will be implemented in addition to Myanmar's second five-year plan of fight against human trafficking from 2012-16, Lieutenant-General Ko Ko, Minister of Home Affairs and Chairman of the CBSTP, told a anti-human trafficking function in Nay Pyi Taw.

Myanmar has pledged anti-human trafficking activities in collaboration with the international community including UN organizations, local and international non-governmental organizations during its first five-year plan from 2007 to 2011.

Myanmar authorities claimed that it has arrested 211 human traffickers and rescued 105 victims in 2014.

Human trafficking cases mostly occurred in Myanmar's northeastern Shan state, followed by Yangon and Mandalay regions, Kachin state.

Most of the trafficking victims are brought to Thailand, China and Malaysia, forcing many girls to marry with men there and children to work as laborers.

Statistics show that from 2006 to 2013, Myanmar police uncovered 999 cases of human trafficking and arrested 2,757 human traffickers.

Myanmar enacted the Anti-Human Trafficking law in September 2005.