Globalisation and the advancement of technology have generated greater mobility of people and resources across national borders. In light of this development and against the backdrop of ASEAN vision for integration, irregular movement of people, including trafficking in persons (TIP) and people smuggling, have emerged to be major regional concerns. Due to the transboundary nature of these threats, the ASEAN Member States are affected as the source, transit or destination country for such cases, where perpetrators often exploit the vulnerability of victims living in poor socio-economic condition.

The complex web of syndicates facilitating the smuggling and trafficking of people through various routes across borders perpetuates this situation, where victims are vulnerable to life-threatening condition. The threats of people smuggling and TIP have also exacerbated during the COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 pandemic, where reopening of borders has led to increased new modus operandi and growing syndicates in the criminal activities.

ASEAN has stepped up its effort to fight against TIP through the adoption and implementation of the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP) and the ASEAN Plan of Action Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (APA). Since early 2020, ACTIP has been in force in all ASEAN Member States. Recognising the multi-faceted issues of TIP, ASEAN adopted the Bohol TIP Work Plan 2017-2020. Led by the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC), this Work Plan provided a holistic framework to addressing various elements of TIP, such as law enforcement, criminal justice, border security, health, education and gender, involving nine cross-pillar Sectoral Bodies in ASEAN. Upon conclusion of the Bohol TIP Work Plan, on 21 August 2023, the 17th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) adopted the successor ASEAN Multi-Sectoral Work Plan Against TIP 2023-2028. The implementation of the Work Plan is currently ongoing and involves ten relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies, which reaffirms ASEAN’s commitment in tackling the threat of TIP through cross-pillar and cross-sectoral coordination and cooperation.