Vientiane – On 30 May, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) conducted a specialized training session for 21 staff of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Lao People’s Democratic Republic on Victim Identification and Assistance. The training aimed to enhance the staff's understanding of the regional and national landscape of trafficking in persons (TIP), and to augment their capacity for protecting and assisting victim of trafficking in persons.

 This unique initiative leverages the robust partnership between IOM and the Indonesian embassy to deepen the understanding of the complex dynamics of human trafficking. It underscores the importance of providing assistance that is both centered on the rights of the victims and tailored to their needs.  

The collaboration aims to enhance the capacity to offer effective support and protection in the face of the complex challenges posed by human trafficking.  

“Human trafficking is a transnational crime that pose challenges exceeding the competence of any community or country.” remarked Her Excellency Ms Grata Endah Werdaningtyas, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to Lao People’s Democratic Republic. "Indonesia believes that international cooperation is one of the solutions in dealing with human trafficking” She further acclaimed. 

This initiative was tailored to address the growing number of referral cases involving Indonesian citizens in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, who are identified as irregular migrants or suspected victims of human trafficking, particularly in relation to online scam centers.  

Ms Shareen Tuladhar, Chief of Mission, IOM Lao People’s Democratic Republic commented “With trafficking cases identified in several sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, plantation, caregiving, and more recently the proliferation of the online scam centers; Lao People’s Democratic Republic is becoming an attractive destination of this crime - which is of grave concern.”  

The training, conducted by experts from IOM Lao People’s Democratic in collaboration with IOM Indonesia, significantly bolstered understanding Indonesian embassy on victim identification, equipping them with tools and techniques for integration into their daily practice. The training also highlighted the National Laws on Anti-Trafficking in Persons, National Referral mechanism and other repatriation mechanisms, both in Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Republic of Indonesia.  

“The ASEAN Declaration on Combatting Trafficking in person caused by the Abuse of Technology pledged during Indonesia’s ASEAN leadership was particularly timely for ASEAN, given that, in 2023, three key countries of origin for victims of trafficking in online scams (Viet Nam, Indonesia, and Myanmar) and the top five countries of exploitation or transit (Cambodia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Lao People's Democratic Republic and Thailand) are its member states.” added Ms Shareen Tuladhar. 

This initiative is a testament to the commitment of both IOM and the Indonesian embassy to combat human trafficking and to safeguard the rights and well-being of individuals, particularly in the context of online scam centers where Indonesian citizens have been identified as irregular migrants or suspected victims.   

This also forms an extension of IOM’s core engagement in the country on combating human trafficking, as part of the ongoing Asia Regional Migration Regional Program (Asia RMP), bringing together the efforts of all concerned authorities to develop a wider and more secure victim assistance coordination mechanism.  

This training was supported by the U.S Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM). 

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For further information, please contact: 

• Jaskiranjeet Kaur, Policy and Project Development Officer (jaskaur@iom.int)
• Phouvith Phanthavong, Project Assistant, Counter-Trafficking (pphanthavong@iom.int)
• Chanjaleurn Rasphone, Communications Assistant (crasphone@iom.int)