KDN launches National Action Plan on Anti-trafficking in Persons 2021-2025

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31  -- The Home Ministry (KDN) today launched the National Action Plan on Anti-Trafficking in Persons 2021-2025 (NAPTIP 3.0) to eradicate human trafficking in the country.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the plan is a strategic document outlining all plannings and efforts to eradicate human trafficking in Malaysia over the next five years.

He said the plan is the joint efforts of the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (MAPO), as well as all government agencies, non-governmental organisations, Madani Community Association and international organisations.

“The criminal activity of human trafficking is similar to the practice of modern day slavery in that the dignity and human rights of a human being who is a victim have been denied and treated cruelly and inhumanely.

"The crime can happen to all groups regardless of men or women, adults or children, status and race," he said in the launching the National Anti-Trafficking in Persons Action Plan (2021-2025) which was aired live on the Home Ministry official Facebook, here today.

Meanwhile, Hamzah said there were 1,780 human trafficking cases recorded since 2015 with 9,594 individuals rescued.

He said the total comprised 8,062 women, men ( 1,122), girls (270) and 140 boys becoming victims of such activities.

According to Hamzah, the efforts to flush out such crimes is something that is demanded under the objectives of Islamic law (Maqasid Syariah) to preserve the life of a human being, including restoring dignity and self-esteem.

“On the overall, the policies and programmes outlined in NAPTIP 3.0 prove the continuous commitment of the government to ensure dignity and human rights are upheld, valued and respected,” he said.   

Meanwhile, Hamzah, in a statement, said the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (MAPO) High Level Committee (HLC), which was attended by representatives from 21 ministries, departments and agencies, had met today and two notification papers were presented.

He said that the first notification paper was the Status of Proposed 15 Points of Action for Improvement related to the US State Department's Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, while the second paper was NAPTIP 3.0.

“Through the presentation of the first paper, the MAPO HLC meeting took note of the improvement measures that have been and will be taken to improve Malaysia’s reputation at the international level on the issue of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants.

“Strict and consistent action based on the law has been taken against any party involved in the crimes of Trafficking in Persons, Smuggling of Migrants and Organised Crime, including among civil servants,” he said.

In addition, he said the MAPO HLC meeting had also endorsed NAPTIP 3.0 as the government’s strategic document outlining all plans and efforts to combat human trafficking in Malaysia for the next five years.

He said that the MAPO HLC meeting also called on all parties to remain committed to implementing good labour practices to avoid legal action that could affect the export of products to foreign markets.

-- BERNAMA