The Success of Human Trafficking Prevention Has Won Taiwan International Recognition
In order to efficiently prevent transnational human trafficking, the United Nations has passed the “Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime” in 2000. After ratification, it came into force in 2003. The United States of America passed the
“Trafficking Victim Protection Act” in 2000 and the “Trafficking Victim Protection Reauthorization Act” in 2003, obligating the U.S. Department of State to issue an “Trafficking in Persons Report”, which evaluates and ranks every government in its efforts to monitor and combat human trafficking.
In the “Trafficking in Persons Report 2013” issued on June 20, 2013, Taiwan was ranked as a Tier 1 country (out of a total of 188 countries), along with
Prevention of Human
Trafficking
only three other Eastern Oceanic countries: Korea, New Zealand and Australia.
Taiwan has been ranked as a Tier 1 country for four consecutive years, which fully demonstrates that our overall efforts in combating human trafficking are recognized by the international community.
The “Trafficking in Persons Report” indicates that Taiwan fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. During the reporting period, Taiwan continued robust and transparent prosecution of trafficking offenses, including both forced labor and forced prostitution charges.
In addition, Taiwan continued strong victim protection efforts, trained law enforcement and other officials, and raised public awareness of trafficking offenses.
Constant Enhancement of
Human Trafficking Prevention
The focus of Taiwan”s efforts on human trafficking prevention is synchronized with the international community through the work of the 4 “Ps”
(Prosecution, Protection, Prevention and Partnership). The 2013 results are as follows:
Prosecution
Every police division has assigned a task force to design and conduct duties related to human trafficking criminal investigations including irregularly scheduled raids. The District Prosecutors Office of the Ministry of Justice has assigned one or more prosecutors to actively investigate human trafficking cases, and to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law according to the seriousness of the offenses. There were 166 human trafficking cases uncovered
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by the police in 2013, including 84 forced labor cases and 82 sex trafficking cases. In total there were 127 human trafficking cases prosecuted by prosecutor offices with 335 defendants.
Protection
The NIA and the Ministry of Labor worked with Non-Goverment Organizations (NGOs) to establish 21 shelters throughout Taiwan to provide welfare services and protection to victims of human trafficking, 3 shelters were established by the Ministry of the Interior yet are run by the private sector. 366 victims were provided with life care, psychological counseling, interpretation service, legal aid, escort to court questioning and other essential medical aid or services in 2013.
In order to thoroughly identify possible victims of human trafficking, the Detention Affairs Corps of the NIA are required by law to conduct second questioning and verification for all detainees in large detention centers in Taipei, Hsinchu, Yilan and Nantou (the Kaohsiung detention center is being constructed currently and scheduled to open by the end of 2014). In 2013, a total of 48 human trafficking victims were identified after questioning in detention centers and transferred to shelters for care and protection in order to safeguard their human rights.
In order to assist victims of human trafficking to rebuild their lives, the NIA issued 181 temporary residence permits and extended 303 temporary residence permits. To ensure their right to work, the Ministry of Labor will inform local public employment service centers in the vicinity of related shelter by letter to provide assistance when issuing temporary work permits to victims of human trafficking.
In 2013, there were a total of 282 work permits issued, 37 assistance cases of changing employment; as well as 206 cases of employment assistance, and 5 cases of employment introduction from public employment service centers.
Prevention
In order to elevate the professional skills and capabilities of officials in the field, the NIA held 2 training sessions of general human trafficking prevention education and 1 human trafficking prevention consultation networking camp.
The NIA also aired a 30 second promotional video clip on TV during public interest segments and executed similar promotions on various radio stations such as the Taipei Radio Station. The session of “human trafficking prevention consultation networking camp” was recorded, converted into an educational DVD, and sent to other government agencies as reference training materials.
Related government agencies have also included human trafficking prevention courses as part of their professional training programs.
In order to increase public awareness of the issue of human trafficking, the NIA further produced promotional micro films in 5 different languages, including Chinese, English, Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese, so the audience
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can grasp the concept of anti-human trafficking. It is hoped that through name recognition of the featured actors will attract public attention to this issue and familiarize victims with various protective measures and encourage them to seek help.
In order to raise attention to the human trafficking issue and enhance implementation of preventative measures through various levels of government, the Ministry of Labor, the National Police Agency, the NIA, together with experts, scholars and other related representatives conducted on-site inspections and evaluations of 22 county and municipal governments from May 13 to June 11, 2013. Six criteria were used to determine performances, including meeting performance, prevention promotion, shelter and protection, investigation, partnership and innovation. The on-site inspection and evaluation not only served to exhibit the efforts and results of each local governments, but also strengthen the cooperation between central and local governments enabling public scrutiny of the performance of government in combating human trafficking via the internet, thus effectively promoting and substantiating the overall human trafficking prevention in Taiwan.
Partnership
In order to update information and knowledge of human trafficking prevention from other countries, combine resources of NGOs, connect with the international community, and enhance the protection mechanism for victims of human trafficking, the NIA, the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Taiwan Tourism Bureau jointly held “2013 International Workshops on Prevention of Human Trafficking” on October 1, 2013.
This workshop sent special invitations to a senior investigator from the Australian Federal Police Child Protection Operations and 6 representatives from other countries to give keynote speeches and make discussions on child sex tourism and forced labors on fishing boats. 32 members from 21 countries of the Diplomatic Corps and representatives from various NGOs in Taiwan have attended the Workshops, bringing the total number of participants to over 230. Through the discussions and interactions among experts and
scholars, this workshop not only provided a platform for information exchange in human trafficking prevention regards but also an opportunity to build a transnational mechanism for future cooperation with foreign governments and NGOs; therefore, implementing President Ma”s philosophy to combat human trafficking and lead the country with human rights.
The NIA was also invited by the German Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Foundation to attend EU-ASIA DIALOGUE - International Workshop: Human Trafficking-Challenges to Europe and Asia at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna in Austria. Our report in the international workshop delivered by the NIA”s representative was highly regarded by the EU and other participating countries, which not only proved that our work on human trafficking prevention has met global standards, but also effectively increased international visibility of our country.
The NIA signed memorandum of understanding on immigration affairs and human trafficking prevention with Honduras, Vietnam and Paraguay respectively in 2013. The NIA will continue to proactively pursue the signing of similar MOU with other countries through NIA”s immigration working groups abroad making arrangements with their counterpart immigration authorities.