Reducing illegal migration will reduce trans-border human trafficking. Research demonstrates that illegal migrants are extremely vulnerable and expose themselves to exploitation, with many becoming victims of human trafficking. Smuggling of migrants and human trafficking are distinct concepts which can be interlinked and are often not well understood.
Laos is primarily a source and transit country for human trafficking and it is estimated that between 600,000-1 million Lao migrants are abroad, with the biggest share of them being in Thailand. The Lao province of Bolikhamxay, one of Luxembourg’s priority cooperation provinces, borders both Vietnam and Thailand and is as such particularly exposed to HT and SOM.
A two-day workshop was held in Paksan, Bolikhamxay Province on June 28th and 29th for Prosecutors and Judges on smuggling of migrants and its links and distinctions with human trafficking. Special attention was given to practical case studies, international law instruments (TOC, TIPP and SOM) Lao legislation, as well as comparative legislation from ASEAN countries. During the workshop, a training module to identify victims of human trafficking was introduced, sharing best practices in human trafficking investigations and looking into specific indicators to identify human trafficking, labour exploitation and sexual exploitation.
Mr Langsy Sibounheuan, former Deputy Prosecutor General of the Lao PDR participated in the two-day workshop.
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