By NNN-KPL,
Vietiane : The six great Mekong sub-region (GMS) countries gathered here Wednesday to discuss on cooperation to fight against human trafficking that currently poses a threat to the region.
The six Mekong sub-region countries made up Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam attended the 6th Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) on Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT) at Don Chan Palace Hotel, Vientiane which will run till Friday.
Lao Vice Minister of Public Security, Brigadier General Toula Inthathilath, UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Sonam Yangchen Rana, 60 representatives of members of COMMIT participated in the meeting.
Toula said that the 6th Senior Officials Meeting of COMMIT is a significance part of cooperative frameworks in efforts to promote cooperation in areas of security and regional socio-economic development.
“The meeting is taking place amidst the preparation for celebration of That Luang Festival and Trade Fair, which will be held during Nov 7-12,” he said.
“Trafficking in persons nowadays is increasingly acute and dangerous, it operates in very intricate manner and comes in many forms and therefore very hard to detect, monitor and control.
“The purpose of human trafficking is not only for sexual exploitation or trafficking into prostitution,” he added. “As we know now that there are other intentions for trafficking, these include labour exploitation in factories, sweatshop, domestic work, begging and in the fishing industry. The problem is far more widespread than many would think”.
“Human trafficking is a global issue, which cannot be solved by a single country alone. It therefore, requires for collective and concerted efforts to fight against the problem. In order to respond and solve these problem, it requires that we increase our efforts and resources; develop effective measures and mechanisms,” he urged.
The meeting will significantly contribute to the finding of appropriate approaches to fight against, curb and limit current human trafficking crimes bringing peace, stability and prosperity to our Great Mekong-Sub region.