ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children

1. The Rights-Based and Victim-Centered Approach: Human rights of trafficked persons shall be at the center of all efforts to prevent and counter trafficking and to protect, assist, and provide redress to victims. A victim-centered approach seeks to minimize re-traumatization and secondary victimization associated with the justice process by providing the support of victim advocates and service providers, empowering TIP survivors as engaged participants in the process, and providing survivors an opportunity to play a role in seeing traffickers brought to justice.
2. Do No Harm: Before any action is taken with respect to a trafficked person, consideration should be taken to ensure to minimize the harm of any kind that will be caused to that person.
3. Non-Punishment: Trafficked persons should not be held criminally or administratively liable for unlawful act committed by them, if such acts are directly related to the acts of trafficking.
4. Non-Discrimination: Trafficked persons shall enjoy the same rights, protections, recognition, and treatment, without distinction of any kind, such as race, gender, age, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, economic status, birth, disability, or other status.
5. Best Interests of the Child: In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.
6. Gender Equality: Gender equality refers to women and men having equally respected rights, and equal access to resources and opportunities. It is concerned with the situation of men and women. However, as it is often women who face greater risks and vulnerabilities in different sectors, it is often associated with a greater focus on women.
7. Social Inclusion: Refers to when individuals or groups are able to participate in the economic, social, political and cultural life of their society. This includes being economically included or having access to labour markets, land and livelihood opportunities; politically included and having access to citizenship rights, the ability to organize, exercise voice, demand rights and influence decision-making that affects their lives; and being socially included and having access to infrastructure, basic services and amenities, social protection, public safety and social networks. Social inclusion thus refers to improving the ability, opportunity, and dignity of people to take part in society.

1. The prevention of TIP
2. The protection of victims
3. Law enforcement and prosecution of crimes of TIP
4. Regional and international cooperation and coordination

SOMTC