News

International trafficking to Fiji extends to Thailand

December 12, 2019 6:16 am

Victims of international trafficking to Fiji who were previously only from China and the Philippines have now extended to Thailand and other countries.

This was revealed by the International Organization for Migration during their presentation on trafficking issues in Fiji at the National Workshop on Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation underway in Sigatoka.

Presenting at the Workshop, Project Officer Lee Yacoumis says Fiji is the first transit and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purpose of sexual and labor exploitation including domestic servitude.

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“There is international trafficking as well as domestic trafficking in Fiji and we know there are sourced countries for victims into Fiji are broadening. It appears that trafficking is increasing in Fiji but that is not shared effectively and we do know that the numbers are still low.”

Yacoumis said according to the International Organization for Migration report, around 25 known cases of human trafficking to Fiji have been captured of which some are being prosecuted.

“Overexploitation in Fiji is connected with local extractive industries such as fishing and mining and that Fiji is developing a stronger inspection program looking to ensure employers are doing the right thing by migrant workers.”

Meanwhile, the workshop also includes a proposed National Framework on human trafficking which will be presented by the Ministry of Defence and National Security.