Better Mechanism: Workshop On Safe And Secured Migration Of IDPs

Introductory Consultative Workshop on Effective Partnership and Implementation of Project on "Strengthening the protection of victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants in IDP camps in Myanmar" took place in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday.

The workshop was jointly organized by the Department of Rehabilitation under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and International Organization for Migration (IOM) with the support the US Government.

Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration, Akio Nakayama said "Since 2006, we have been working with the Government of Myanmar and  all partners for promotion of safe, orderly and regular migration. This project is part of overall partnership, particularly with Department of Rehabilitation of Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement to promote protection of vulnerable migrants, particularly victims of trafficking in IDP camps."

The IOM Chief pointed out that the challenges, facing at the IDP camps, provide condition for traffickers and smugglers to take an advantage and make profit.

He added that this project could help achieve the better protection mechanism including data collecting.

Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration, Akio Nakayama said "We have high risk of trafficking from northern part of Myanmar to China and from Rakhine for example there are irregular migration trafficking into Malaysia from Rakhine State. So there are existing trafficking network. But one of the challenge is we still do not have sufficient data to identify the victims among IDP populations."

Deputy Director, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Kyaw Swar said “Most of the trafficked cases involved women and children. Especially, migrants from IDP camps are the most trafficked victims. Since our country is a developing one, many people use to migrate to the developed countries like China and Thailand for job opportunities. The trafficked cases occured during the migration process.”

Myanmar enacted the Anti-trafficking Law in 2015. It is learnt that the amendment of the law and drafting bylaws are being implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs.