Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR 28 March 2019 - IOM, under the framework of the Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT) together with Winrock International, supported the Counselling and Protection for Women and Children Center of the Lao Women's Union, to organize a consultation meeting on the drafting of guidelines on the protection and assistance for victims of Trafficking in Person (TIP). The main objective of this meeting, held from 19 to 20 March 2019, was to solicit inputs from a broad range of stakeholders and to share these with the drafting committee.
Mrs. Thoummaly Vongphachanh, Vice President of Lao Women's Union and Mrs. Misato Yusa, IOM Head of Office and Dr. Xoukiet Panyanounvong, Programme Director, Winrock International/USAID opened the two-day meeting.
The guidelines on protection and assistance for victims of TIP were drafted to ensure that the victims are protected and assisted in line with government policy. The guidelines are meant to support officers directly involved in protection and assistance work. The idea is to have one set of guidelines on referral, protection, assistance and rehabilitation for women and children who are the victims of TIP. Sharing the draft guidelines and seeking inputs from UN agencies, NGOs, CSOs and relevant ministries ensured that the final draft guidelines, which will now be submitted to the National Steering Committee on Anti Human Trafficking, are as comprehensive as possible.
The Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants (GLO.ACT) is a four-year (2015-2019), €11 million joint initiative by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The project is being implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). GLO.ACT aims to provide assistance to governmental authorities and civil society organizations across 13 strategically selected countries: Belarus, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, South Africa, Ukraine. GLO.ACT works with the 13 countries to plan and implement strategic national counter-trafficking and counter-smuggling efforts through a prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnerships approach. It supports the development of more effective responses to trafficking and smuggling, including providing assistance to victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants through the strengthening of identification, referral, and direct support mechanisms.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Phrommala Souriivonexay
Email: sphrommala@iom.int
Website: https://www.iom.int/gloact
Email: glo.act@un.org
Twitter: @glo_act