SINGAPORE: Research is an imperative step in
understanding the extent of human trafficking in Singapore, said
migrant welfare groups and non-governmental
organisations.
They said studies on the nature and scale of the
problem need to be done first.
The authorities recently launched a National Plan of
Action against Trafficking in Persons to combat the issue in a more
strategic way.
Forty-three reports of sex trafficking were received by the Police,
while 67 cases of labour trafficking were detected by the Manpower
Ministry last year.
However, these statistics alone may not be enough to fully
understand the human trafficking situation.
Observers said more research is needed.
Siddharth Kara, who is a fellow at Carr Centre Programme on Human
Trafficking & Modern Slavery, said: "What's going on with human
trafficking, who's being trafficked, in what numbers, for what
purpose, by whom, etc. This broad base baseline research will be a
very good foundational piece to have."
Mr Kara added that sector-based research is also useful.
"Look at the construction sector, the domestic work sector, the
maritime sector and understand who's being trafficked into these
sectors, by whom, for what purpose, under what modes and means so
that you can design your response and your interventions
specifically based on knowledge generated by research."
The Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME) set up
its Trafficking Resource Centre at the end of last year.
HOME believes it should be actively involved in the research work
as it has day-to-day contact with the migrant community.
Libby Clarke, who is a consultant on Anti Human Trafficking at
HOME, said: "This is one which is building upon the services which
HOME has long provided to victims of both sex and labour
exploitation. And to ensure that we are tailoring those services
very specifically to the needs of victims of trafficking, we are
also equipping ourselves with the information we need in order to
accurately identify those individuals."
For the first time, 16 NGOs met on March 28 to discuss the issue of
Trafficking in Persons. One of the objectives of the meeting was to
set out a map of who's doing what in the area of research.
In addition, the NGOs explored ways in which they could collaborate
better and ensure synergies are being maximised.
As part of the National Plan of Action, the Inter-Agency taskforce
on Trafficking in Persons is also conducting research, with
relevant third parties.
HOME started a 24-hour hotline in November last year to provide
assistance to victims of trafficking in persons. They've been
receiving between 10 and 20 calls each day. 10 per cent of the
calls relate to the issue of sex exploitation.
Further investigations will then be carried out after each hotline
call is received. This is done to find out exactly the whole ordeal
of what the caller has gone through.
Ms Clarke said this process is important in order to establish the
nature of the exploitation and whether they are a victim of
trafficking.
The Inter-Agency taskforce is also studying the feasibility of
setting up a toll-free hotline so that authorities are alerted to
possible trafficking cases.
Ms Clarke said: "We are in discussions with the taskforce as to who
is best placed to provide this service moving forward. The feedback
that we receive from the users of our hotline shows they far prefer
to make a call to an NGO than to a government official.
"They need a line which they can access which doesn't take them to
an official who they perhaps fear because they are concerned about
what would happen to them as a result."
The taskforce expects to complete the joint research by 2015.
- CNA/fa