The Asia Regional Trafficking in Persons Project is an Australian Government, AusAID initiative.
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| About ARTIP | ||||||||
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| An effective criminal justice response to trafficking in persons is essential to ending the current high levels of impunity for traffickers and ensuring security and justice for those who have been trafficked. Key elements of an effective response include a strong and realistic legal framework; capable frontline and specialist law enforcement agencies; informed and committed judges and prosecutors; a system for the quick and accurate identification of victims; and mechanisms to promote cooperation between criminal justice agencies within and across borders. At all stages, the national and regional response to trafficking should reflect internationally agreed criminal justice and human rights standards. The ARTIP project recognises that trafficking takes place for a wide range of purposes and that women, men and children are trafficked. For more information on an effective criminal justice response to trafficking in persons, go to the ARTIP specialised site on trafficking in persons and the criminal justice sector (click here). |
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| In 2003, the Australian Government launched a regional initiative, Asia Regional Cooperation to Prevent People Trafficking (ARCPPT). This project, which concluded in August 2006, sought to facilitate a more effective and coordinated approach to the crime of trafficking both within and between countries. ARCPPT worked with the national criminal justice agencies of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand and also undertook some activities in Indonesia. The project cooperated closely with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and key regional forums on trafficking including the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT). Following a review of ARCPPT's work, the Australian Government decided that a new project would be supported to build on the considerable achievements made by individual countries and the region as a whole. |
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| These flags link to information on the ARTIP Project in Project country langauges (except the Philippines). | ||||||||
| Cambodia | Indonesia | Lao PDR | Myanmar | Philippines | Thailand | Vietnam | ||
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| The Asia Regional Trafficking in Persons Project (ARTIP) commenced in August 2006 and is expected to run for up to 5 years. Like its predecessor, ARTIP is focused on the criminal justice response to trafficking with a special emphasis on securing justice for victims and ending impunity for traffickers. ARTIP works in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. ARTIP also cooperates closely with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and key regional forums on trafficking, including the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT). Specifically, the ARTIP project is working in the following areas: Strengthening specialist and general law enforcement responses to trafficking Both general and specialist law enforcement officials are key to a strong criminal justice response to trafficking. Frontline law enforcement officials are often the first point of contact for both victims and traffickers and their ability to correctly identify victims and provide an initial response is critical. Specialist police are required to undertake the complex but vital work of investigating the crime of trafficking. ARTIP seeks to equip both general and specialist law enforcement agencies with the knowledge and skills they require. The project focuses special attention on supporting the establishment and effective functioning of specialist anti-trafficking units as well as nurturing relations between these units in order to promote investigation cooperation among countries. Strengthening judicial and prosecutorial responses to trafficking Prosecutors and judges are also essential to ending impunity for traffickers and securing justice for victims. ARTIP works to increase awareness and understanding about trafficking in persons among judges and prosecutors to ensure that trafficking cases are successfully prosecuted and adjudicated. In addition to providing support at the national level, this also involves activities aimed at increasing cooperation in prosecutions between countries. Strengthening the legal and policy framework Good laws are the foundation of a strong national criminal justice response to trafficking. ARTIP provides advice and support to governments in developing and/or revising their national legal framework around trafficking. The focus extends beyond specialist trafficking laws to include, for example, legislation related to money laundering, mutual legal assistance and extradition. ARTIP supports the development and implementation of strong policy frameworks on trafficking at both national and regional levels. ASEAN is an important partner for ARTIP at the regional level because of its central role in the development of common standards, shared best practices and strong regional policy on trafficking. A small but carefully targeted research program aims to undertake and commission innovative research into the relatively unexplored area of criminal justice responses to trafficking. |
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