ENGENDER and US Embassy help empower students and educators against human trafficking

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- Educators and future educators play a key role in recognising, preventing and protecting their students from the risks of human trafficking which remains the third largest crime in the world today, affecting the lives of millions of people globally, including Malaysia.

Recognising the role played by the group in preventing this heinous crime, a social enterprise named ENGENDER Consultancy today organised a one-day programme to empower educators and students with the skills to prevent and respond to various trafficking-in-persons (TIP) situations through a variety of panels and interactive sessions.  

Founder of ENGENDER Consultancy,  Omna Sreeni-Ong said the National Anti-Trafficking Public Awareness Programme: Break the Silence, Break the Chains was meant to strengthen the advocacy and capacity of antitrafficking organisations and raise public awareness to address trafficking in persons in Malaysia.

She said this in her welcoming address during the launch of the programme by Deputy Secretary General of Ministry of Home Affairs, Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa here Wednesday. Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Kuala Lumpur,  Michael Newbill was also present at the launch. 

Ong cited a 2020 UNODC report which found that overall, 50 per cent of detected victims were trafficked for sexual exploitation and 38 per cent for forced labour, with the same report saying that children form half the victims of sexual exploitation. 

Meanwhile, Newbill in his speech said the programme supported by the embassy, is a noble initiative to help raise awareness among youth about the seriousness of human trafficking and to help them spot the indicators of trafficking. 

“Young people, especially those with risk factors, are vulnerable to human trafficking and they are preyed on by traffickers and lured with false promises of love, money, or simply a better life.

“Youth may also be targeted by traffickers simply because they are young and less equipped to make informed and sound decisions when presented with a situation that may lead to trafficking,” he said.

-- BERNAMA