Human Trafficking in Asia-Pacific Region

                                     

          The date is 3 October 1990 when the democratic West Germany and the socialist East Germany were reunified with the motto "Unity and Justice and Freedom ".From then the Federal Republic of Germany is striving to eliminate all sorts of human right violation. Germany is a well developed country which is the European source, point of transit and destination country for women, children and men subjected to trafficking in persons.The German government has undertaken several preventive initiatives over the last few years. The Alliance against Human Trafficking for Labor Exploitation, a project carried out by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) with European Social Fund (ESF) funding, has produced various activities to date. The European Union and UNODC have launched the global action (GLO.ACT) to prevent and address trafficking in persons. As a active member of  EU Germany is implementing this joint initiative with IOM and UNICEF.[Ref.https://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/member-states/germany-3-implementation-anti-trafficking-policy_en].

In order to assist trafficked person ,Social Protection and Prevention of Human Trafficking (SPPHT), a regional project for the Western Balkans, targets publicity and education work in Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, primarily by the support of learning and dialogue processes and by developing standards, guidance and further training for counselors. Assistance services to trafficked persons are provided by State-based services, including health care providers and counselors . Besides, state governments fund several organisations that provide shelter, assistance, and facilitate protection for victims of trafficking. The German NGOs that specialize in counter-trafficking measures are members of the Federal Association against Trafficking in Women and Violence against Women in the Migration Process (KOK.) KOK therefore is an umbrella organization with about 40 members that provide services, such as counselling centres and shelters, for victims of trafficking.

The German government has attached special measures to combat child trafficking through the framework of national action plans .Children have special rights as witnesses in criminal proceedings and the well-being of the child is the lead principle in cases involving children.

The German government is intensely concern about human trafficking and has taken initiatives like:

1.In September 2011 the “Plan of Action 2011 of the Federal Government of Germany for the Protection of Children and Teenagers from Sexual Violence and Exploitation” was decreed. Keeping parents and experts informed, empowering children and teenagers, and providing therapy for potential offenders .Providing comprehensive aid to affected persons, and optimizing prosecution.

2.Creating safe heavens for children and teenagers, and combating child trafficking with all means available.

3.Expansion of international cooperation for the protection of victims and prosecution of offenders. Creating uniform protection standards for a united fight against sexual violence and exploitation .

4.EU financed project “ADSTRINGO – Addressing trafficking in human beings for labor exploitation through improved partnerships, enhanced diagnostics and intensified organizational approaches” and as an activity of the CBSS - Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings a national workshop took place in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in Berlin on 19 of March 2013. Representatives of other ministries, social partners, the Federal Employment Agency, churches and NGOs were invited to this event.

5.In 1998 a model for a referral mechanism focusing on victims of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation was agreed and published for the first time by the Federal Working Group “Trafficking in Women“. This model was updated in 2007. The original model and the updated version had been elaborated by the Federal Criminal Police (BKA) and KOK - German nationwide activist coordination group combating trafficking in women and violence against women in the process of migration..[Ref.https://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/member-states/germany-3-implementation-anti-trafficking-policy_en].

 In the view of  Germany , Strengthening border security or introduction to new laws  can not be the ultimate solution of human trafficking. To prevent this deadly human rights violation a country needs to emphasize on feasible preventive measures.  Because when there is poverty , people will naturally  risk their life for their living .So Germany would suggest to be more concerned about the unemployment problem .  Social awareness  should be raised in the vulnerable part of the country. Combine efforts of government and citizen of the country could be the solution of this worst forms of human rights violation.