Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a concerning rise in human trafficking cases involving online forced criminal activity resulting in dual victimization. The extent of criminal activity, thousands of human trafficking victims, and the number of countries where such operations have occurred are a cause for concern and necessitates increased regional and international action. The breadth and depth of such criminal activities are enabled by criminal networks’ exploitation of the pandemic, job losses, the culture of migrant work specifically in the Southeast Asia region, and the ease of conducting illegal activity in Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has passed a number of Conventions and Declarations to address the issue and follow-through has begun with implementation in various countries, but there is still much to do. The severity of the situation requires strengthening efforts at an international level including the financial and technology sectors to increase safety online and cooperate for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. An effective response requires the cooperation of various governments, regional and international efforts beyond Southeast Asia which include the financial and technology sectors to extend assistance and prosecute such criminal networks. This means having comprehensive efforts targeting both physical and online spaces as a better response for human trafficking prevention, protection and prosecution, effectively addressing not just sex trafficking but also labor trafficking.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Micaela Cayton Garrido is an advocacy professional with over 20 years of experience working in various public interest issues, with a focus on international criminal and humanitarian law and human rights. Since 2019, she has been teaching in the Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies program at DePaul University in Chicago.