Stop Child Sex Trafficking Petition Handover‏

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On 1st Mac, i have post Stop Sex Trafficking. Sign Up The Body Shop Petition to urge and share with my friends to support this campaign. Welldone! to The Body Shop Malaysia team has collected more than 10,000 signatures.

On 22nd Mac, The Body Shop presented the Home Ministry with more than 10,000 signatures in the hopes of putting an end to the trafficking of children and young people in Malaysia.

Some 100 people made up of staff of The Body Shop, Tenaganita, PS the Children and Nursalam took part in this event and marched down Putrajaya to the office of the Home Ministry where members of MAPO (Majlis Anti Pemerdagangan Orang dan Antipenyeludupan Migran) were ready to receive us.

These signatures were collected through the efforts of The Body Shop employees throughout the country after Deputy Home Minister, Dato’ Wira Abu Seman Yusop launched the campaign together with The Body Shop in August last year.

The campaign called for ratification of the Optional Protocol of the Sale of Children under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) by the Malaysian Government. The campaign was to create awareness amongst the public on the issue of human trafficking particularly on the exploitation of the child.

Every year, more than 2.5 million people are trafficked around the world. Out of this alarming number, 1.2 million are under the age of 18. Globally, this results in USD27 billion in profits which is third largest sum for international crimes after illegal drugs and arms trafficking. This matter is of concern to Malaysia which is not just a destination but also a source and transit point for young people who are trafficked. The issue of baby trading syndicate is also close scrutiny of the authorities.

As such, the whole nation has a duty to play in putting an end to this predicament. While we do have an Anti-Trafficking and Anti-Smuggling Act 2007 in place, the specific awareness on the trafficking of children for sexual purposes is lacking. It is crucial for Malaysia to adopt a comprehensive strategy specifically focusing on protecting children and ensuring that child rights are upheld, in particular the right to sexual protection.

In line with the National Action Plan Against Trafficking in Persons (2010-2015), we are taking the initiative to draw awareness to this problem while adopting a multi-sector approach between government agencies, NGOs, international organizations and community groups in the hopes that we obtain a positive and collective response and action to the situation. Hope the quality protection and rehabilitation of young people who are trafficked will be consistent with international standards of human rights at every level regardless of color and creed.