Using the Zoom video-conferencing application, CIFAL and the RSO were able to connect with 46 participants from 18 different countries.

Participants were able to share best practices and lessoned learned while receiving professional inputs from invited experts. Based on the knowledge gained and shared at this workshop, participants worked to develop a viable and practical action plan to attain specific objectives as a way to contribute to addressing human trafficking in their respective countries.

Following opening remarks from Ambassador Hong-ghi Choi (Director of UNITAR CIFAL Jeju) and Mr. Jake Sharman (Australian Co-Manager of the RSO), Ms. Among Resi – Counter Trafficking Program Officer at IOM Thailand – delivered the first session on Recent efforts and discourse in anti-trafficking activities. During this session Ms. Resi explained the difference between trafficking, forced labour and slavery and highlighted the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the scale and characteristics of trafficking in persons.

Leading the second session was Ms. Nari Shim – Policy and Communications Officers at IOM Korea – who discussed the 3P paradigm used for addressing trafficking in persons. Ms. Shim explained the 3Ps and highlighted different cases that reflect each of the 3Ps to contextualize the concepts being introduced.

The third session was led by Ms. Rebecca Surtees – Senior Researcher at the NEXUS Institute – who delivered her session on Identifying, protecting and assisting victims of trafficking. Ms. Surtees highlighted the key considerations in identification, the victim protection framework and the challenges faced in victim identification and protection.

To finish off the first day, the RSO led a scenario exercise, presenting participants with a case study and asking them for their opinions on what crime what committed, what actions should be taken to prosecute/investigate criminals and what actions should be taken to ensure protection of victims.

Day 2 of the workshop started with Mr. Bill Laidlaw – Programme Coordinator at the RSO – delivering a session on the Prosecution of human trafficking cases. The session went over barriers to victim cooperation in the criminal justice processes and how to address them as well as the challenges on reliance on victim testimony.

Ms. Rebecca Miller – Regional Programme Coordinator (Human Trafficking/Smuggling of Migrants) at UNODC – led the fifth session of the workshop, hosting a facilitated discussion on Partnership and international cooperation. Participants were able to share their opinions on what makes an effective partnership and share examples of good partnerships in addressing trafficking in persons.

Finishing off Day 2, the RSO led another scenario exercise which focused on the difficulties of prosecution and the confusion between human trafficking and other crime types.

The last day of this workshop focused on participant perspectives and experiences. Instead of hearing from guest speakers, several participants were selected to share the trafficking situation in their country and the responses taken by their country or the organization they work for. Not only were participants able to learn more about responses to trafficking in different countries in the Asia-Pacific region, but the RSO and CIFAL were able to gain insight as well.

The RSO would like to that our distinguished guest speakers for sharing their knowledge and expertise at this event. We would also like to thank Ambassador Hong-ghi Choi and the impressive CIFAL staff for all their work in organizing and ensuring the success of this workshop. Lastly, we would like to thank all the participants for attending and sharing their perspectives and knowledge allowing for a fruitful discussion.