§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department is doing to tackle(a) human trafficking and (b) trafficking of women. [106926]
§ Clare ShortThe trafficking of people is part of a wider set of issues related to the migration of poor people to better their lives, and to their vulnerability to national and international smugglers and traffickers. Trafficking is an international problem requiring coordinated action. DFID's role is to work to eliminate the poverty and social injustice that can lead to such abuse. Through our programmes to promote sustainable development and end poverty, DFID is helping to reduce the circumstances that give rise to this appalling trade, and which make women and children especially vulnerable. With other Government Departments, we are supporting the efforts of Governments and international agencies to strengthen social protection policies and justice systems in line with the international treaty framework covering these issues.
For example, in SE Asia, we are supporting the International Labour Organisation's work to reduce the trafficking of women in Laos, Thailand, China (Yunnan), Cambodia and Vietnam. It involves a number of interlinked interventions to raise awareness and prevent the trade. In the Balkans we recently supported the International Organisation for Migration in training the various agencies dealing with trafficked people, including police, social workers and the legal profession, in order to create and disseminate models of good practice.