SL curbs human trafficking

Drops to tier two:

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

Sri Lanka has been upgraded to tier two in the Annual Global Trafficking in Persons Report 2011 as a result of increased efforts by the government in addressing the concerns, and the successful prosecution of offenders, ILO Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Donglin Li said. He was addressing the media at a Media Workshop on Human Trafficking and Forced Labour at JAIC Hilton on Thursday.

He said that Sri Lanka has made significant progress towards combating human trafficking, following the establishment of the National Task Force of Trafficking subsequent to the amendment to the penal law in 2006 and the Justice Ministry National Steering Committee on human trafficking in May 2010 under the Chairmanship of Secretary of Justice.

Li said the ILO has extended its support to the government by carrying out several initiatives together with national stakeholders to support in combating trafficking.

It will continue to support Sri Lanka in strengthening efforts to combat human trafficking and forced labour through its wealth of experience.

According to ILO estimates , there are at least 2.4 million traffickers at

any given point in time, yet only a few thousand convictions of traffickers every year.

Most of the victims are not identified and consequently , never receive justice for the damage inflicted upon them. Li said despite growing awareness and more effective law enforcement responses, trafficking remains a low-risk criminal enterprise with high returns. He said according to ILO estimates, annual profit generated from human trafficking is as high as USD 32 billion.