Myanmar authorities have exposed 748 human trafficking cases since the work committee for human trafficking prevention was formed in July 2002 to June 2006, according to Saturday's official newspaper The New Light of Myanmar.

During the period, subordinate committees at different levels in 14 states and divisions were able to expose and arrest 1,484 persons -- 815 males and 669 females, and also rescued in time 3, 694 persons -- 1,904 males and 1,790 females, the paper disclosed.

A reception camp in Myawady at the Myanmar-Thai border to provide assistance to the victims of human trafficking was opened in February 2002 and it had received 20,072 persons facing troubles abroad and sent them back to their families, the paper said.

Moreover, in cooperation with a United Nations body to curb human trafficking in the Greater Mekong Region -- UNIAP, Save the Children (SC)(UK) and World Vision, the government welcomed and sent back the 303 victims of human trafficking to their homes, it added.

After attending the World Women's Conference held in Beijing in 1995, Myanmar launched its drive to combat human trafficking. The Myanmar National Committee for Women's Affairs (MNCWA) was formed in July 1996 which laid down a policy on the development and life security of women and has been implementing it since then.

Myanmar promulgated the National Plan of Action in 1997, with the aim of fighting the problem of trafficking in persons in various aspects. The plan consists of prevention, prosecution, protection, rehabilitation and reintegration, and is being implemented.

Myanmar became a signatory to the Asia Regional Cooperation to Prevent People Trafficking (ARCPPT) project comprising Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos in December 2003.

In September 2004, Myanmar organized the Transnational Crime Department with 99 members to enhance international cooperation.

Myanmar hosted in Yangon in October 2004 a ministerial meeting at which ministers of six countries -- China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam -- in the Mekong region signed an MoU to collectively combat trafficking in persons.

Myanmar also became a signatory to the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC) and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children in 2004 respectively.

Source: Xinhua