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 sex workers. In recent years the staggering number of identified trafficked victims has increased exponentially.
What's being done & by whom
Prevent Human Trafficking advocates to amend laws, ensuring the prosecution of those conducting trafficking activities and use its network of police, judges and other officials to correct the justice system’s weaknesses regarding sex and labor crimes.
Philippines
Wildlife Trafficking
The Southeast Asian illegal trade industry has reduced and exterminated many species. The Philippines is home to 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 works to find financial support for local conservation efforts, supports targeted behavior change campaigns to improve attitudes to biodiversity. It coordinates with local partners to deliver training in community-based natural resource management and deputizes 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 a focal point due to reports of illegal wildlife trafficking. 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 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, have been advocating against wildlife trafficking. This includes campaigns to create awareness, raising funds, as well as research and collaboration with various organizations.
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, burned or degraded in the past 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 to stop new permits for logging and improve primary forest and peatland governance. Greenpeace Indonesia is one of several organizations 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 in 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 the management of wildlife and their habitat.
Myanmar
Wildlife Trafficking
Despite laws protecting pangolins, Myanmar’s most critically endangered animals, investigations at major trade hubs have found consumption and trade to be pervasive and brazen. The country is a major transit route for 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 officials 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 of 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 children are trafficked for sexual and labor exploitation and domestic slavery.
What's being done & by whom
Hagar is an expert in health care and recovery for victims of trauma. In Vietnam, it focuses on supporting women and children who have fled from severe domestic violence and human trafficking. It supports these individuals through their whole journey of recovery, including trauma counseling education, vocational training, and job placement.
Timor Leste
Human Trafficking
The small island has been facing significant environmental challenges caused by both direct human activity and the global consequences of climate change. Limited legislation and unsustainable use of natural resources, low awareness and underdeveloped waste management practices cause air and water pollution practices, and a heavy oil-dependent energy sector, pose major challenges.
What's being done & by whom
The federal government partnered with Mura Technology to develop the first commercial Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor (Cat-HTR) recycling plant that can convert 20,000 tons of plastic waste to oil annually. This solution not only keeps plastic waste away from oceans, soils, and landfills, but also helps the nation become the first plastic neutral nation. The partnership also set up a not-for-profit, ‘RESPECT,’ to represent and address, social, economic and environmental needs of Timor Leste.
Malaysia
Wildlife Trafficking
Malaysia is renowned for its immense biodiversity within its rainforests. However, in recent years, numerous Malaysian animals such as pangolins, orangutans, and rhinoceros, have neared extinction due to increased illegal wildlife trafficking and lack of conservation.
The Solution
Wildlife Conservation Society works with several local Malaysian partners to help preserve these animals’ natural habitat. They specifically focus on the endangered elephants, tigers and orangutans 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 labor exploitation.
What's being done & by whom
Hagar is a systematic solution in the rehabilitation of victims of slavery, trafficking, and abuse. It provides a safe environment, legal support, health care and trauma counseling to 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, fishing and construction, many of them children. Thousands more are thought to have been trafficked internationally. Graft and a lack of a political will hampered efforts to address human trafficking in the country. Many of those trafficked end up working menial jobs in China and 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 reaching an agreement.
What's being done & by whom
There has been a lot of pressure from the global community, which has expressed concerns over the trafficking in the country. There are also a number of NGOs and advocates actively involved, raising awareness and urging the authorities in the country to take action. Some of these groups are Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) and End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT Cambodia).
