China releases plan to combat human trafficking

China released on Thursday a five-year plan for curbing human trade in women and children.
The plan outlines measures for minimizing human trafficking crimes and alleviating the physical and psychological pain its victims go through, CRI writes.

According to the plan, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) would be in charge of organizing ministerial-level meetings to address the issue. Local governments would also being ordered to set up organs for cracking down on human trafficking.

The funding for the anti-trafficking activities would mainly come from the central and local governments and from individual contributors. In addition, international aid would be actively sought, the plan says.

The authorities in charge of places where trafficking mostly occurs such as bus and train stations, airports and ferry docks, among others, would be required to intensify supervision to spot trafficking of women and children.

The plan also includes guidelines for implementing crackdowns on the use of illegal labor for use by the Public Security Ministry, Labor Ministry and State Industry and Commerce Administration.

The victims of human trafficking would also be offered greater assistance by providing more training, physical and mental therapy and rehabilitation, the plan says. The Health Ministry will also set up a system providing medical care for women and children who have been victims of human trafficking.

According to Du Hangwei, director of the investigation bureau with the MPS, the comprehensive plan is the first of its kind in China. It outlines a wide scope of anti-trafficking measures in the areas of preventive education, crackdowns, victims aid and rehabilitation and international and regional cooperation.

Every year, an estimated 1 million children become victims of human trafficking, according to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. Most are forced into prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation, or unfree labor.

In 2006, the Ministry of Public Security registered 2,500 human trafficking-related criminal cases.

A vice ministerial-level meeting to address the issue of human trafficking was hosted some time ago by the ministry to address the human trafficking situation in Cambodia, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, where human trafficking has grown in recent years.