Institutional Arrangements to Counter Human Trafficking in the Asia Pacific (Report‪)‬

Introduction As globalization has taken hold, an increasing number of people have begun to move across national borders: to live, to work, or for pleasure. Within regions this process is intensified as shorter distances, lower costs and cultural affinities act as positive pressures on directing transnational population flows. In most cases these transnational flows are voluntary. However, for a significant number of people this is not the case. Individuals may be coerced to move to work as sex workers, as bonded labour or, in the worst cases, as slaves. Data from 2004 "showed that, of the estimated 600,000 to 800,000 men, women and children trafficked across international borders each year, approximately 80 per cent are women and girls and up to 50 percent are minors". (1) While a significant percentage of these victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation, a significant number are being exploited for their labour as well. (2)