Thailand
Human Trafficking
Thailand’s sex industry is an infamous human trafficking destination. Women are trafficked from poor regions in hopes of finding employment but are traded and abused as sexual workers. In recent years the staggering number of identified trafficked victims has exponentially increased.
What's being done & by whom
Prevent Human Trafficking advocate towards amending laws, ensuring prosecution of those in power of these trafficking activities and using their network of police, judges and other officials in correcting the justice systems weaknesses regarding sex and labor crimes.
Philippines
Wildlife Trafficking
The Southeast Asian illegal trade industry has deteriorated and exterminated many populations of species. Philippines is home to a large consumer demand for illegal wildlife and the subsidiary items and medicines that come from these animals. The estimated worth of this illegal industry in the Philippines is $1 billion.
What's being done & by whom
DAI work towards finding financial support to local conservation efforts, supporting targeted behavior change campaigns to improve attitude towards biodiversity, coordinating with local partners to deliver training in community-based natural resource management and deputize a cadre of local wildlife protection officers
Brunei
Wildlife Trafficking
Brunei is home to an array of wildlife species, particularly different species of birds. The Sarawak-Brunei border has been at focus due to reports of illegal wildlife trafficking taking place. It is an ecologically fragile area where rare migratory birds from around the globe take shelter especially during winter. There is a need for legislative measures and enforcement to bring the cruel trade to a halt.
What's being done & by whom
The Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry & Primary Resources of the government as well as wildlife conservationist NGOs, like BruWILD has been advocating against wildlife trafficking. This includes campaigns to create awareness, raising funds, as well as research and collaboration with various organisations.
Indonesia
Environmental Sustainability
Indonesia has had one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, with more than 74 million hectares of rainforest, logged, burnt or degraded in the last half century. This has also caused air pollution to worsen; smoke from forest fires in six provinces triggered an outbreak of acute respiratory infections. However, controlling deforestation has been challenging due to the absence of punishment or loopholes in the regulations.
What's being done & by whom
According to the Forestry and Environment minister, followed by the outbreak of respiratory infections, the president issued a permanent moratorium and instructed to stop new permits and improve primary forest and peatland governance. Greenpeace Indonesia is one of several organisations that has been monitoring deforestation and environmental mismanagement in the country, as well as voicing concern and creating awareness.
Laos
Wildlife Trafficking
Laos has become a transit and distribution hub for illegal wildlife trade due to its strategic geographical location between Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and China. There has been high activity of illegal trading and trafficking of endangered species such as pangolins, tigers, rhinos and elephants.
What's being done & by whom
The Wildlife Conservation Society supports the Laos ecosystem through protection and improved management of biodiversity by building the capacity of government and local stakeholders to improve management of wildlife and their habitat.
Myanmar
Wildlife Trafficking
Despite laws protecting pangolins, Myanmar’s most critically endangered animals. Investigations at major trade hubs found consumption and trade of to be pervasive and brazen. The country is a major transit route of illegal wildlife smuggling to China. Syndicates have been trading in Myanmar with little to no risks/consequences. Among other goods include elephant skin, ivory statues, and bear biles.
What's being done & by whom
Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division of the Forest Department of the local government has run public awareness campaigns, collaborated with advocacy groups and trained law enforcement official in border areas to prevent illicit trafficking of pangolins and products made using their skin/scales. The Global Environmental Reporting Collective also investigates the illegal wildlife trafficking on Pangolins across Asia and across the globe.
Vietnam
Human Trafficking
Although Vietnam is one of southeast Asia's fastest developing countries, human trafficking remains a big problem. Men, women, and childrne are trafficked forr sexuall and labor exploitation and domestic slavery
What's being done & by whom
Hagor are experts in health care and recovery for victims of trauma. In Vietnam, they focus on supporting women and children who have fled from severe domestic violence and human trafficking. They support these individuals through the whole journey of recovery, including trauma counselling education, vocational training and job placement.
Timor Leste
Human Trafficking
Although Vietnam is one of southeast Asia's fastest developing countries, human trafficking remains a big problem. Men, women, and childrne are trafficked forr sexuall and labor exploitation and domestic slavery
What's being done & by whom
Hagor are experts in health care and recovery for victims of trauma. In Vietnam, they focus on supporting women and children who have fled from severe domestic violence and human trafficking. They support these individuals through the whole journey of recovery, including trauma counselling education, vocational training and job placement.
Malaysia
Wildlife Trafficking
Malaysia renowned for its immense biodiversity within its rainforests. However, in recent years, numerous Malaysian animals such as the pangolins, orang-utans and rhinosirous have neared extinction due to increased illegal wildlife trafficking and lack of conservation.
The Solution
Wildlife conservation Society work with several local Malaysian partners to help preserve their natural habitat. They specifically focus on the endangered elephants, tigers and orang-utans by monitoring access points with anti-poaching patrols to deter potential encroachers, remove snares and arrest poachers. They also provide training on anti-wildlife trading.
Singapore
Human Trafficking
Singapore has become a popular transit point and destination hub for trafficking activities. Women and children are trafficked into the country for sexual or labour exploitation.
What's being done & by whom
Hagar is a systematic solution in the rehibilitaation of victims of slavery, trafficking and abuse. They provide a safe environment, legal support and health care and trauma counselling to the survivors in hopes of empowering them with the tools and resources to become aspiring members within their communities.
Cambodia
Human Trafficking
More than 260,000 of Cambodia’s 16 million people are trapped in modern slavery, often in farms, fishering and construction, many of them children. Thousands more are thought to have been trafficked internationally. Graft and a lack of political will, has been hampering efforts to address human trafficking in the country. Many of those trafficked end up working menial jobs in China and the neighboring countries including Malaysia. The Cambodian government has urged the Malaysian government to sign an anti-trafficking MoU to ensure the protection of its citizens in Malaysia, however they continue to face challenges to reach an agreement and finalise the deal.
What's being done & by whom
There has been a lot of pressure from the global community, particularly the U.S. government that has been expressing concern over the trafficking issues present in the country. There are also a number of NGOs and advocates actively involved, raising awareness and urging the authorities in the country. Some of these groups are ADHOC and ECPAT Cambodia.
