TAIPEI: Taiwan is examining further measures to assist in the global fight against human trafficking, interior chief Liao Liou-yi told the opening of the 2009 International Workshop on Strategies for Combating Human Trafficking.

Liao said Taiwan's aim is to join with countries and regions around the world and non-government organizations to combat the issue.

The government-sponsored workshop aims to study the means of identifying victims of human trafficking, protecting and sheltering them and to promote greater global cooperation on the matter.

A new law, promulgated on June 1, provides for tougher penalties on violaters and closes legal loopholes that traffickers were able to exploit.

The bill, passed on January 12, was the latest measure in a series of steps Taiwan has taken to prevent human trafficking.

Liao noted Taiwan's human trafficking action program established in 2006 and the establishment of a coordination unit and the enactment of a human trafficking law.

Liao told the gathering that Taiwan would like to see the establishment of an international network to combat trafficking.

Robert Wang, head of the American Institute in Taiwan, noted that according to United Nations statistics, at least 12 million people around the world are victims of human trafficking.

He praised Taiwan's efforts, noting that the workshop demonstrates Taiwan's commitment to combating the global problem.

Wang told the opening ceremony that the crime represents the modern version of slavery and is a public insult to human dignity, human rights and democratic values.

"Human trafficking is a universal problem that civil societies like Taiwan and the United States should not neglect, as it weakens legal economic activities, triggers violence, destroys families and hampers our sense of community and sense of justice," Wang said, adding that it will also damage education and public security and eventually affect social and economic development.

According to the 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report released in June by the US State Department, Taiwan, which was placed in a Tier 2 ranking, has made some progress in combating human trafficking over the past year, but should do much more, including extending labor protection to all categories of workers to prevent labor trafficking.

The anti-human trafficking workshop was attended by law enforcement personnel and representatives from the US Department of Homeland Security, the Thailand Foundation for Women and a number of Taiwanese NGOs, including the Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation, Good Shepherd Social Welfare Services, and the End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes - Taiwan, as well as the Rerum Novarum Center.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 07/28/2009 page2)