The ASEAN Guidelines for Addressing Child and Forced Marriage within the Context of Trafficking in Persons is an important resource for ASEAN Member States. It recognises that child and forced marriages are not only harmful practices, but also a pathway through which trafficking can occur.
Development of the guidelines was led by the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), supported by the Australian Government funded ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking program. The Guidelines were officially launched on 25 November 2025.
The purpose of this guide is to serve as a comprehensive resource for ASEAN Member States and relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies involved in developing strategies and plans of action to combat trafficking in persons, prevent gender-based violence, child protection and safeguarding, and related policy issues.
It aims to equip policymakers and practitioners with a clear understanding of the intersections between child marriages, forced marriages, and trafficking in persons, enabling them to accurately identify and investigate trafficking for child and forced marriages. Additionally, it seeks to strengthen the provision of support services to victims of these forms of exploitation.
The guidelines are specifically tailored for ASEAN frontline responders, policymakers and relevant entities and offers practical guidance and examples of good practices across eight identified key areas for preventing and addressing child and forced marriages within the trafficking in persons framework.
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