Posted: 21 March 2012 1255 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore launched its National Plan of
Action against Trafficking in Persons that will take its fight
against human trafficking more holistically and
strategically.
The plan seeks to provide a common language and definition for
trafficking aimed at enhancing the processes in victim
identification and protection.
A significant change involves the training of some 10,000 frontline
officers.
Standard operating procedures will be altered when it concerns the
referral of cases and investigation process.
Investigations will be less offence centric.
This means those found to be victims of human trafficking will be
treated as such.
They should be immuned from other offences such as overstaying or
prostitution.
Authorities also plan to set up specialised enforcement teams to
combat sex and labour trafficking by end 2013.
Current laws are being reviewed.
One of the ideas being considered is whether there should a
dedicated law on Human Trafficking.
This review is expected to be completed by end 2013.
Other plans in the works include the possibility of a dedicated
human trafficking hotline and a review of the adequacy of current
shelter facilities for victims.
The National Plan of Action comes after a series of consultations
with stakeholders including non government agencies and foreign
governments.
An inter-agency taskforce was set up in November 2010 to work
towards this.
Launching the plan on Wednesday, Minister of State for Manpower Tan
Chuan-Jin said Singapore, with its high people flow is an
attractive platform for human trafficking.
He added that while Trafficking in Persons is not a severe problem
in Singapore, sex trafficking and signs of labour-related
exploitation do exist.
- CNA
