The understanding of what makes a person vulnerable to trafficking in persons continues to evolve, however, the link between disability and trafficking in persons remains less well-understood.
To address this gap, new research by ASEAN-ACT in partnership with Australian University La Trobe enquires into the vulnerability of persons with disabilities to trafficking in persons, as well as the barriers victim/survivors with disabilities face when accessing remedies, justice and support.
The study was conducted in three Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. These countries were selected because of their efforts to address disability inclusion in national and local laws, policies and procedures, including in the justice sector. They also provide examples of different types of trafficking.
Building a greater understanding of the intersection between trafficking and disability can help policymakers and practitioners to better target prevention efforts, ensure services meet the specific needs of victims with disabilities, and improve processes for investigation and prosecution to ensure victims with disabilities can access justice, including compensation and/or restitution.
Download the full study in English, and Bahasa Indonesia.
Download key findings and recommendation in Indonesian and Thai.
To further explain the intersection between disability and trafficking in persons, watch this animation:
The animation is also available in: Khmer subtitle, Bahasa Indonesia subtitle, Lao subtitle, Vietnamese voice over.
The report discussed in this podcast by Asia Rising featuring researcher Dr Elisabeth Jackson: