Every day, people across Southeast Asia receive scam messages on their phones or fall prey to fake job ads online. But what if the person sending that message isn’t a criminal – but a victim of trafficking?
In the ten years since 10 ASEAN Member States signed the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP) on 21 November 2015 during the 27th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia – the crime of human trafficking has evolved rapidly.
Today, trafficking is not always visible – it hides behind computer screens, in call centres, and in cybercrime rings where people are forced to commit fraud under threat or deception. These victims are often criminalised for the very acts they were coerced into, raising urgent questions about justice and protection.
ACTIP was a landmark moment for ASEAN – a shared commitment to take one of the region’s most devastating crimes. Since its signing, ASEAN Member States have made significant strides. The Convention entered into force in 2017, and regional cooperation has deepened through frameworks like the Bohol TIP Work Plan 2.0 and the ASEAN Guidelines on the implementation of the Non-Punishment Principle for the protection of victims of trafficking in persons. These tools help ensure that victims are treated with dignity and not punished for crimes they were forced to commit.
Australia has been a steadfast partner in this journey for over two decades. Through our programs like ARCPPT, ARTIP, and now the ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking program – Australia has supported ASEAN to strengthen justice systems, build capacity, and promote victim-centred approaches. ASEAN-ACT, launched in 2018, represents a 10-year commitment to supporting full and consistent implementation of the ACTIP.
Over the years we have learned that countering trafficking involves more than improving the justice response. People are exploited because of intersecting vulnerabilities – gender inequality, poverty, disability, migration status, displacement.
These factors make individuals more susceptible to exploitation and harder to reach with support and remedy.
Ten years on, there is much to celebrate. ASEAN has built a strong foundation of laws, policies and partnerships. But the crime continues to evolve – and so must our response. That means investing in inclusive justice, ensuring no one is left behind. It requires coordinated action not only from governments, but also from the private sector, civil society and those working across supply chains. It demands laws and policies that are continually revised to reflect new forms of exploitation – and practices that ensure victims are protected.
As Timor-Leste begins its journey within ASEAN, its inclusion strengthens the collective response to trafficking and opens new opportunities for collaboration across all 11 Member States.
By marking this milestone, we honour the progress made and recommit to the work ahead. Because every statistic is a person. The next decade starts now and together we can shape a future where trafficking has no place.