TO RECEIVE REGULAR UPDATES ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING NEWS AROUND THE GREATER MEKONG SUB-REGION
How UNIAP works
The
United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP) was established in June 2000 to facilitate a stronger and more coordinated response to human trafficking, in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and beyond. UNIAP is managed by a headquarters in Bangkok, with country project offices in the capitals of Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam. The seven UNIAP offices have a combined staff of approximately 30. While UNIAP is a UN inter-agency project, UNIAP receives financial support from its own bilateral and multilateral funding and not from UN agencies, allowing it to retain a neutral position within the UN that serves all UN agencies, governments, and NGOs equally. It is the only inter-agency coordinating body on human trafficking of its kind within the United Nations system.
As a core function, UNIAP coordinates the policy and operational response to human trafficking within the GMS in collaboration with the its key stakeholders:
Government agencies: GMS governments at central and local levels;
United Nations: UN and international implementing agencies such as ILO, IOM, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNODC, UNFPA, and others; and
NGOs: Local and international non-government organizations (Save the Children, Oxfam, ECPAT, World Vision, the Asia Regional Trafficking in Persons Project - ARTIP, and many local NGOs).
UNIAP works with an extensive network of government, local and international NGOs, UN organizations, and donors, and links to agencies in Northeast Asia, South Asia, Europe, and beyond. With changing trends in human trafficking between Southeast Asia and other countries and regions of the world, UNIAP also aims to be responsive to the problem as it shifts and evolves, liaising with governmental and non-governmental entities outside of the GMS as strategic and necessary. UNIAP’s inter-agency coordination and linkages have led to strong small-scale and large-scale inter-agency collaborations that have resulted in more effective interventions, and the elimination of thousands of dollars of redundant programming.
In serving its key stakeholders, UNIAP's four objectives are:
1.
To support governments in the institutionalization of effective multi-sectoral approaches to combat human trafficking
2.
To maximize the effectiveness of the UN’s overall anti-trafficking response
3.
To facilitate optimal allocation and targeting of anti-trafficking resources
4.
To continue to play a catalytic role in the anti-trafficking response by identifying and supporting special projects to address new and emerging issues.
These four objectives are fulfilled through the implementation of three coreUNIAP Initiatives:
At its inception, UNIAP aimed to create an ‘overarching mechanism’ for co-ordination of anti-trafficking initiatives by a wide-range of stakeholders. While this was initially considered an ambitious vision, UNIAP has continued to improve cooperation in the counter-trafficking sector, involving an increasing range of players and activities, many of whom had not collaborated before.
UNIAP Phase I (2000 - 2003) focused on creating linkages between the range of different organizations involved in combating trafficking, using its broad and responsive mandate to address emerging issues. Linkages facilitated by UNIAP resulted in new partnerships, and successful pilot initiatives were launched and carried on into Phase II. UNIAP also played an important role in promoting critical analysis and conceptual clarity within the anti-trafficking sector, a notable outcome of which was increased understanding of the links between migration policy and trafficking.
UNIAP Phase II (2003 - 2006) consolidated the work and achievements under the first phase. The Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT) was a key achievement over this period, the signing of the COMMIT MOU against trafficking by the GMS governments. This groundbreaking regional agreement committed the governments to dedicate their efforts to fight trafficking, understanding the extent of the problem and the need for their action against it. The first sub-regional plan of action (COMMIT SPA I, 2005-2007) was subsequently developed to put the MOU into action.
UNIAP Phase III (2007 - 2009) aims to build on the achievements of the first two phases, combining support for further institutionalization of counter-trafficking functions with a new ‘research and development’ role. This involves developing, testing, and funding new ideas and approaches; identifying and addressing of gaps and priorities; and, strengthening of monitoring and evaluation throughout the sector. In turn, as new information, knowledge and insights are gained, the Project will work to ensure that these are brought to bear in improving programming across the counter-trafficking sector. This will be underpinned by the Project’s ongoing role in providing forums for operational coordination and information-sharing between the various Government, UN and non-government partners.
Where we want to be by the end of Phase III
Protection: Victims are able to access protection services and justice across the region through mechanisms that meet international standards.
Prosecution: Impunity for traffickers and exploitative employers has sharply declined, and justice is served through effective and fair criminal justice processes.
Policy: Legal and cooperation frameworks are in place that are compatible, functioning, and consistent with international standards.
Prevention: There is a declining incidence of trafficking due to better-targeted vulnerability reduction and expanded access to non-exploitative employment mechanisms.
Strategic Information: Systems are in place that accurately monitor and disseminate, on an ongoing basis, the human trafficking situation and the effectiveness of the counter-trafficking response.
