Program Overview
Background
At the ASEAN–Australia Special Summit in March 2018, Australia’s Foreign Minister announced a 10 year, A$80 million commitment to continue Australia’s long-running collaboration with ASEAN to end trafficking in persons in the region.
Officially launched in July 2019, ASEAN-ACT will build on Australia’s 20+ year history of supporting ASEAN and its Member States’ justice systems to effectively respond to trafficking in persons.
Governance
ASEAN-ACT’s work is guided by the ASEAN Convention against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP) and its associated plan of action, as well as the ASEAN Bohol Trafficking in Persons Work Plan 2.0 (2023-2028). ACTIP entered into force on 8 March 2017. This was a milestone for the ASEAN region in its efforts to end trafficking in persons.
The associated ASEAN Plan of Action aims to provide specific action plans within ASEAN Member States’ national laws and policies to support the ACTIP’s implementation.
Australia has supported ASEAN in its development and implementation of the ACTIP, and continues this support through ASEAN-ACT.
Regional Program Steering Committees
ASEAN-ACT’s Regional Program Steering Committee provides strategic direction and oversight, ensuring that ASEAN-ACT’s projects and activities contribute to the ACTIP. The committee, which meets annually, is co-chaired by the Lead Shepherd on Trafficking in Persons from the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime and a senior representative from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It includes members from all 10 ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat.
National Program Steering Committees
Each Member State where ASEAN-ACT is delivering projects has a National Program Steering Committee. The national committees meet annually and include representatives of implementing partner agencies, ASEAN-ACT and the Australian Government. Each committee is led by a national trafficking in persons coordinating body.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has contracted DT Global to manage delivery of the program. The Australian Mission to ASEAN provides oversight of the contract.