COVID-19 crisis increases human trafficking risk, law minister says

Law Minister Anisul Huq has said the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and economic downturn have increased the risk of human trafficking.

He also said that human trafficking is a rapidly-evolving crime and it requires a comprehensive and well-coordinated response.

The minister came up with the statement while addressing a webinar, titled ‘Bangladesh E-Judicial Colloquium to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants’, arranged by  United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Tuesday, reports BSS.

“The COVID-19 crisis has further increased vulnerabilities and risk of trafficking. The government of Bangladesh would like to identify and support trafficking victims, and bring perpetrators to justice,” the law minister said.

Anisul sought UNODC support regarding facilitating law enforcement and criminal justice cooperation, promoting victim-centred responses focused on women and youth and improving the world’s knowledge on trafficking trends in the country’s judiciary.

Reiterating Bangladesh’s stance for safe and systematic migration, the law minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been at the forefront of global policy debate, articulating the idea for the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration.

“Being the seventh largest recipient country of global remittances, Bangladesh has set a clear priority on protecting its migrants’ rights and interests both at home and abroad,” the minister said.

“In this regard, Bangladesh passed the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012 and its rules in 2017,” he added.

“Bangladesh also acceded to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) in July 2011,” he further said.

Anisul informed that the country is currently implementing a comprehensive National Plan of Action for Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking (2018-2022).

The minister stressed integrating efforts into the wider agenda of multilateralism on development and stability to address human trafficking.

“As millions of people suffering from this global crime, we must act urgently,” he said.

The law minister said he expects that this “Bangladesh E-Judicial Colloquium’’ would bring an opportunity to better understand the types of cases that are currently being brought before the courts.

UNODC’s Treaty Affairs Director John Brandolino, representative for South Asian regional office Sergey Kaplnos, head of the European Union delegation to Bangladesh Rensje Teerink and Law and Justice Division Secretary Md Golam Sarwar addressed the webinar, among others.