Singapore furthers the commitment to the fight against human trafficking earlier today when provisions were made to the Children and Young Person’s act in Parliament.
The introduction of the Prevention of Human Trafficking Bill creates a formal definition of Trafficking-in-Persons (TIP) in accordance to the United Nations TIP protocol, Channel NewsAsia reports. With the bill, special officers from the Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health belonging to the inter-agency TIP task force will have the power to investigate suspected TIP cases. The consent of the trafficked victim for intended exploitation will no longer be a valid defence, and those who aid and/or receive payment in connection to these cases will also be in violation of the law.
Additional provisions in the Bill will also help protect the identity of victims with a publication gag order enforced for all sexual exploitation cases and will also encourage the victims to testify in confidence. Necessary safety and care such as temporary shelter and counselling services will also be offered to trafficked victims.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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Suspected Singaporean human trafficker arrested in Manila
Singapore furthers the commitment to the fight against human trafficking earlier today when provisions were made to the Children and Young Person’s act in Parliament.
The introduction of the Prevention of Human Trafficking Bill creates a formal definition of Trafficking-in-Persons (TIP) in accordance to the United Nations TIP protocol, Channel NewsAsia reports. With the bill, special officers from the Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health belonging to the inter-agency TIP task force will have the power to investigate suspected TIP cases. The consent of the trafficked victim for intended exploitation will no longer be a valid defence, and those who aid and/or receive payment in connection to these cases will also be in violation of the law.
Additional provisions in the Bill will also help protect the identity of victims with a publication gag order enforced for all sexual exploitation cases and will also encourage the victims to testify in confidence. Necessary safety and care such as temporary shelter and counselling services will also be offered to trafficked victims.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Read Also:
Suspected Singaporean human trafficker arrested in Manila