BANGKOK -- Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a new regional program to combat human trafficking in Asia. USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia awarded the five-year, $21.5 million USAID Asia Counter Trafficking in Persons (USAID Asia CTIP) program to Winrock International, a U.S.-based development organization.

"This new program is part of a long-term and comprehensive effort by the U.S. Government towards ending human trafficking in the region by 2030," said USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia Director Beth S. Paige.

USAID and Winrock will work together with Asian governments, civil society organizations and other stakeholders in the region to reduce human trafficking in Asia.  Activities will improve cooperation between government social services, law enforcement, healthcare providers and anti-trafficking advocacy organizations to help improve the lives of trafficking survivors throughout Asia.

Announced on the U.S. National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, this program will support Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states as they implement the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children and take steps to stem the demand and supply for trafficked persons.

The program will initially focus on human trafficking in the Lower Mekong countries of Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam as well as Bangladesh. Over time, the project will expand to include other ASEAN member states, South Asia, and destination countries in East Asia and the Gulf States.

USAID will partner with the private sector to develop action plans to reduce trafficking in targeted industries. This includes working with governments and the private sector to improve systems for safer and legal labor migration.

With a broad range of partners, USAID has actively promoted counter trafficking in persons programs in Asia for a decade. Current USAID activities to combat human trafficking in Asia include three comprehensive programs in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Nepal as well as “IOM X,” USAID’s regional partnership with IOM to increase awareness of trafficking in persons in Southeast Asia.