Counter Trafficking

Since 2001, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic has provided assistance to the Lao government in addressing human trafficking and exploitation and in reducing the number of vulnerable migrants affected through its unique expertise in policy development, capacity building and awareness raising of migration issues. IOM’s Past and ongoing counter trafficking portfolio includes all elements in the 4Ps paradigm- Prosecution, Protection, Prevention and Partnership. 

 IOM has been supporting the identification, referral, and protection of trafficked victims, and assists in detecting, investigating and prosecuting cases of human trafficking. In doing so, it helps government and civil society partners to develop capacity in victim identification screening and conducting interviews and helps victims to access support services. To date, IOM has directly supported over 2,500 vulnerable migrants in the country through emergency assistance.  

IOM has been a trusted partner of the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (GoL) and established cooperative working relations with multiple government counterparts including the Office of Supreme People’s Prosecutors (OSPP), the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS), and its Department of Immigration (DOI), and Anti-human Trafficking Department (ATD), the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (MoLSW) as well as the Lao Women's Union (LWU) among many others. IOM also works closely with the National Committee on Anti-Trafficking in Persons (NCATIP) and its Secretariat headed by MoPS. In addition, IOM has also worked collaboratively to assist governments throughout the region in complying with their obligations under the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT) through the provision of financial and technical assistance.  

Current Programs under Counter Trafficking Unit

IOM is currently implementing three projects related to Trafficking in Persons:

1. The “Combating Human Trafficking through Reinforcing Judicial Capacity and Enhancing Border Security in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (CHARJ+)”

The Combating Human Trafficking through Reinforcing Judicial Capacity and Enhancing Border Security in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (CHARJ+) project aims to assist the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic in strengthening its capacity to detect and prosecute Trafficking in Persons cases, as well as its capacity to identify and protect the victims of trafficking in persons (VoT). The project  supports the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic in implementing its Trafficking in Persons National Plan of Action (NPA) 2017-2020 and the next NPA which will be developed by the National Anti-Human Trafficking Committee and to be in aligned with the US 2019 TIP Report. The duration of the project is 24 months (15 July 2020 - 14 July 2023). This Project is funded by the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), United States Department of State. 

Key donor:  Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), United States Department of State. 

2. The Building National and Local Capacity to Combat Trafficking in Persons in Lao People's Democratic Republic (J/TIP)

The Building National and Local Capacity to Combat Trafficking in Persons in Lao People's Democratic Republic (J/TIP) project aims to support national efforts to combat human trafficking in all 3P's (Protection, Prevention, and Prosecution). The project intends to meet its target by raising awareness and providing educational information on human trafficking issues and risk factors to a target population, increasing the number of systemized, victim-centered human trafficking investigations and prosecution by members of law enforcement and prosecutors, develop new or strengthen existing policies, laws, agreements or mechanism related to human trafficking that are enforceable government agencies at national, provincial and local levels. The duration of the project is 36 months (30 June 2022 – 30 June 2025). This project is funded by the U.S. Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP). 

Key donor:  U.S. Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP). 

3. The Asia Regional Migration Program (PRM)

The Asia Regional Migration Program (PRM) responds by building the capacity of governments and key national stakeholders to effectively adopt, manage, and sustain immigration systems, laws, policies, and practices that promote well-managed, regular forms of migration, while also striving for the reduction of migrant vulnerabilities. The program has been strategically conceptualized to serve and respond to a framework of three overarching pillars: (I) promoting sustainable, humane migration management; (II) encouraging value-added partnerships and burden sharing; and (III) preparing countries to respond to migration emergencies. These pillars interconnect with the long-term goals of helping governments and key national stakeholders to improve their migration management capabilities and more robustly cooperate with their regional partners on migration issues, while also seeking to reduce migrant vulnerabilities. The interventions proposed have been designed in coordination with target governments and counterparts, and appropriately respond to gaps and needs identified through formal assessments and ongoing project activities in Central, South and Southeast Asia. The project duration is from 25 January 2022 - 30 September 2022. This project is funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration under the United States Department of State. 

Key donor: Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration under the United States Department of State.