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CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTAL The State of Human Trafficking in Asia Pacific SECURITY AND NATURAL DISASTERS page 4
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ENERGY SECURITY page 4
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FOOD SECURITY page 5
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HEALTH SECURITY page 6
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PEACE, HUMAN The official release of the annual addition, the recognition of stateless- SECURITY AND Trafficking In Persons (or TIP, see box ness, with particular mention of the plight DEVELOPMENT 1) Report by the US State Department in of the Rohingya people, and the page 6 June this year has once again resulted significant lead up to greater risks of in the issue making the news. While the being trafficked, were also highlighted. ——————————- majority of the coverage has been Lastly, the recognition of human reactions to and questions around the trafficking, which occurs in conflict and TRANSNATIONAL index where countries are ranked from CRIME Tier 1 to Tier 3 (see box 2), there are page 7 some notable developments and trends, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. Box 1. What is Trafficking in Persons (TIP)? ——————————- Highlights from the Report “Trafficking in persons” and “human traffick- HUMANITARIAN Based on the report, from a global ing” are used as umbrella terms for the act of ASSISTANCE AND perspective, 2015 was a good year in recruiting, harbouring, transporting, provid- DISASTER RELIEF the world’s collective fight against ing, or obtaining a person for compelled la- page 8 human trafficking. On average there bour or commercial sex acts through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. The Trafficking were more prosecutions, convictions, Victims Protection Act of 2000 describe this ——————————- and identification of victims than any compelled service using a number of differ-
single year in the past. There was also ent terms, including involuntary servitude, WATER SECURITY an improvement in the number of new slavery or practices similar to slavery, debt page 9 and amended legislation with regard to bondage, and forced labour. trafficking in persons. People may be considered trafficked victims For 2016, the report highlighted and regardless of whether they were born into a recognised some important issues and state of servitude, were exploited in their trends. The recognition of the hometown, were transported to the exploita- refugee/migrant crisis in Europe, the tive situation, previously consented to work overburdened asylum system, and the for a trafficker, or participated in a crime as a resultant large incidences of trafficking direct result of being subjected to trafficking. involved were brought to light. In
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ed to Tier 3 (largely due to the poor handling of the Rohingya Box 2. TIP Report Tier Placements crisis) while Thailand was The TIP Report places each country into one of four tiers. This placement is upgraded from Tier 3 to Tier 2 (for based more on the extent of government action to combat trafficking than the government’s work in trying to address the forced labour issues on the size of the country’s problem. in their seafood industry). Critics While Tier 1 is the highest ranking, it does not mean that the specific coun- have argued that the decision for Myanmar was long overdue, while try has no human trafficking problem or that it is doing enough to address the upgrading of Thailand might be the problem. Rather, a Tier 1 ranking indicates that the government has too premature. There have also acknowledged the existence of human trafficking, and has made efforts to been criticism for not further address the problem. Each year, governments need to demonstrate appre- downgrading Malaysia despite the ciable progress in combating trafficking to maintain a Tier 1 ranking. mass graves uncovered in a remote forested area the past Some factors, which influence a country’s tier placement, include: year. Enactment of laws Other notable developments include the downgrading of Hong Criminal penalties Kong and Macau to Tier 2. Both Implementation of trafficking laws have officially questioned and Proactive victim identification publicly rejected the study with Funding for victim rehabilitation accusations of the report being politically motivated rather than Efforts towards victim protection (legal, social) factual. Similar rejections were also communicated by Algeria and Sudan, both downgraded to Tier 3. natural disaster settings was given terms of being a major source, due attention. destination, and transit nodes in On a more positive note, the complex system. Singapore, South Korea and Sri The region The majority of ASEAN countries Lanka became signatories and The Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia remained fixed in the respective state parties to the Protocol to in particular, has consistently been tier placements vis-à-vis the TIP Prevent, Suppress and Punish flagged as one of the biggest report index from last year. Trafficking in Persons, especially ‘hotspots’ for human trafficking Myanmar was however downgrad- women and children, supplement- activities in the world. This is in ing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Table 1. Human Trafficking in the region at a glance Country TIP Report Tier Cate‐ Compared to previous gory Main role of country in TIP year (2014‐2015) (2015‐2016) Brunei Tier 2 = Transit Cambodia Tier 2 = Source, Transit Hong Kong SAR Tier 2 Watch List ↓ Des na on, Transit Indonesia Tier 2 = Major Source Laos Tier 2 Watch List = Source, Transit Macau Tier 2 Watch List ↓ Des na on Malaysia Tier 2 Watch List = Des na on, Source Myanmar Tier 3 ↓ Major Source Philippines Tier 1 = Major Source Singapore Tier 2 = Des na on, Transit Thailand Tier 2 Watch List ↑ Source, Des na on, Transit Timor Leste Tier 2 = Source Vietnam Tier 2 = Source, Des na on
Source: Adapted from Trafficking in Persons Report June 2016
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Table 2. Global Data on Law Enforcement in Trafficking in Persons (figures for Asia Pacific)
Year Prosecu ons Convic ons Vic ms Iden fied New/amended legisla on 2008 5,212 2,983 30,961 26 2009 5,606 4,166 49,105 33 2010 6,017 3,619 33,113 17 2011 7,909 3,969 42,291 15 2012 7,705 4,746 46,570 21 2013 9,460 5,776 44,758 58 2014 10,051 4,443 44,462 20 2015 18,930 (3,281) 6,609 (1,730) 77,823 (13,900) 30 (10)
Source: Trafficking in Persons Report June 2016
Crime (also known as the Palermo primarily assesses the role of state and victims between Southeast Protocol, Trafficking Protocol, or parties in combatting and working Asian countries could also go a the UN TIP Protocol). This brought against TIP, still far too little has long way. Lastly, efforts to ensure the total number of signatories to been done in terms of enactment and guarantee protection as well 117 and State Parties to 169. of laws, criminal penalties, as immunity from criminal prose- Moving forward proactive victim identification and cution for the victims will have to protection. It is thus hoped that be institutionalised and well com- Now that the U.S. State governments, particularly in the municated to the masses in order Department’s annual report has region, will address this particular to tackle this problem from the been published, President Obama transnational issue with better ground up . has 90 days (since the date of monitoring and greater internation- publication) to decide whether to al cooperation than what is already impose restrictions and sanctions in operation. on Tier 3 countries. Based on past One potential and relatively simple experience this is highly unlikely, step forward would be for primarily for geopolitical reasons. governments in the region to work Taking a macro and longer-term more closely with local as well as perspective, the deep and international NGOs and extensive scale of the problem will organisations, which have been affect positive resolutions in the proactive on trafficking issues. region or the world in the near fu- Better information sharing on Courtesy of Flickr account of ture. Based on the report, which known and suspected traffickers Imagens Evangélicas and used under a creative commons license.
Suggested Readings:
US Department of State (2016). Trafficking in Persons Report. June 2016. Courtland Robinson, 2016. “Anti-human trafficking in Thailand”. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Pub- lic Health. Emmaire Huetteman, “U.S. criticises Myanmar over human trafficking”, The New York Times, 30 June 2016. “An annual demand to end human trafficking around the world”. The Washington Post, 4 July 2016. “Hong Kong losing the fight against human trafficking, US report finds”. South China Morning Post, 1 July 2016.
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CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY AND NATURAL DISASTERS
NEWS & COMMENTARIES
U.S. ready for climate South-east Asian fires change cooperation in 2015 break carbon Xinhuanet emissions record: Sci- 6 June 2016 entists Climate change is mak- Reuters, Today ing calendars run amok 29 June 2016 U.S. ready for climate Indonesia faces envi- change cooperation ronmental time bomb Karen Emslie, after coal bust National Geographic Fergus Jensen, Courtesy of Flickr account of United Nations Photo and used under a 7 June 2016 The Jakarta Globe creative commons license. 29 June 2016 Govt assists regions in climate change fights What Brexit means for Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, addressing climate SELECTED PUBLICATIONS The Jakarta Post change 25 June 2016 Justin Worland, The social- Singapore’s climate ac- tion plan: A climate- Time psychological determi- ‘Ocean farmer’ helps resilient Singapore, for 30 June 2016 nants of climate change tackle climate change a sustainable future Sarah C. Baldwin, Spark- risk perceptions, atti- Ministry of the Environment news, tudes, and behaviours: and Water Resources 2016 The Straits Times A national study 25 June 2016 Sander van der Linden, Environmental Education Insurers’ pledge to help Research, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. developing countries on 434–435 climate change 2016 Eduardo Lull, The Financial Times EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS 28 June 2016 Quadrennial Ozone Global Green Growth Symposium 2016 Week 2016 5–9 September 2016, 4–9 September 2016 Jeju City, Republic of Korea Edinburgh, UK
ENERGY SECURITY
NEWS AND COMMENTARIES
With Russian help, Road to low-carbon Asean looks to ASEAN Community nuclear-powered Julius Trajano and Phidel future Vineles, The Nation, Inquirer.net RSIS Commentary 13 June 2016 17 June 2016 Disrupting depend- ence in water, food, fuel Audrey Tan, The Straits Times 2 July 2016 Courtesy of Flickr account of Satsop Nuclear Power Plant and used under a creative commons license.
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S'pore builds its safety Safety concerns linger Status politics: India, savvy as S-E Asia amid pursuit of China and the Nuclear
inches towards nuclear low-carbon future, Suppliers Group Rajesh Basrur, energy Andrea Soh, RSIS Commentary Andrea Soh, The Business Times 8 July 2016 8 July 2016 The Business Times 4 July 2016 SELECTED PUBLICATIONS EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
World Nuclear Perfor- A National Strategy for RSIS Roundtable at the World Future Energy mance Report 2016, Energy Security: The Singapore International Summit England: World Nuclear Innovation Revolution, Energy Week 2016 on 16-19 January 2017, Association Abu Dhabi, UAE World Nuclear Association, Washington DC: “Is regional 2016 Securing America’s cooperation on nuclear Future Energy safety and emergency Energy Security Leadership preparedness
Council inevitable in a post- 2016 Fukushima world?” 28 October 2016, Singapore
FOOD SECURITY
NEWS & COMMENTARIES
Pathways of transition New crop varieties 'can't to agroecological food keep up with global systems warming' Adam Parsons, Common Matt McGrath, BBC News Dreams 21 June 2016 16 June 2016 Brexit: Talks over What would Brexit mean Wales' farming and agri- for farmers and the culture future Common Agricultural BBC News Policy? 4 July 2016 Courtesy of Flickr account of Parker Knight and used under a creative Emily Gosden and Marion commons license. As global per-capita fish Dakers, The Telegraph consumption hits all- 20 June 2016 time high, UN warns on SELECTED PUBLICATIONS Vietnam drought leaves overharvesting one million in urgent UN News Centre 2016 Global Food From uniformity to di- need of food aid – EU 7 July 2016 Security Index versity: A paradigm Thomson Reuters Founda- Economist Intelligence Unit., 2016 shift from industrial tion agriculture to diversi- 20 June 2016
fied agroecological systems EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS International Panel of Ex- perts on Sustainable Food International conference World Congress of Systems on Food Microbiology Food Science and Tech-
2016. 8-10 August 2016, Birming- nology 2016 ham, United Kingdom. 21-25 August 2016,Dublin, Ireland.
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HEALTH SECURITY
GOP backs new fund for Otago global health public health researchers to tackle Sarah Ferris, fevers in Asia The Hill Press Release: 10 July 2016 University of Otago, “Scoop” Health 11 July 2016
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Public Health Surveil- Thermal Hot Spots in Courtesy of Flickr account of AMISOM Public Information and used under a lance: At the Core of Cities as Hazards for creative commons license. the Global Health Health Security: An Security Agenda Application for the NEWS & COMMENTARIES Wolicki, Sara Beth, et al Urban Agglomera- Health security, Vol 14 No. tion of Athens, FDI in pharma: No game Hackers are coming for changer, 'health 3, pp.185-188. Greece. your healthcare records 2016 security' worries still on Cartalis, C., et al. -- here’s why the horizon International Journal of Lucas Mearian, PT Jyothi Datta, Natural Disasters and The Hindu Business Line Computerworld Health Security, 3(1), 21 June 2016 30 June 2016 pp.13-16. Are You Prepared for The Evolving Data 2016 Wearables and Mobile Security Threat Facing Health Security? EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS Bill Kleyman, Healthcare Health IT Security Organizations 27 June 2016 SANS Healthcare Cyber Cyber Security in Heather Landi, Security Summit & Healthcare: Assuring WHO, governments and Healthcare Informatics and securing health agencies commit 7 July 2016 Training 2016 to advancing global 14–21 November 2016 information in the NHS health security National Sports Institute Houston, USA 7 November 2016 World Health Organization to take proactive Hallam Conference Centre,
30 June 2016 measures against Zika London, UK in Rio Olympics Malay Mail Online 8 July 2016
PEACE, HUMAN SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT
NEWS AND COMMENTARIES
Solving Myanmar's Impunity and Justice: ethnic conflicts Why the UN Human Daniel Combs, Rights Council must The Diplomat stay engaged in Sri 11 June 2016 Lanka Alan Keenan, International Crisis Group 17 June 2016
Courtesy of UNAMID and used under a creative commons license.
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The case against peace Brexit threatens world SELECTED PUBLICATIONS Stephen M. Walt, peace and security Foreign Policy Alex de Waal, Innovations in the The Philippines: 17 June 2016 Boston Review Colombian peace Renewing prospects Creating sustainable 29 June 2016 process for peace in peace Yemen: the forgotten Kristian Herbolzheimer Mindanao John Hewko, 2016 famine International Crisis Diplomatic Courier William Lambers, Group 23 June 2016 The Huffington Post 2016 How peace and security 8 July 2016 funders punch above The Afghan peace talks, EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS their weight in a QCG and China- dangerous world Pakistan role 2016 International Istanbul Human Alexandra Toma, Halimullah Kousary, Conference on Security Conference Inside Philanthropy The Diplomat Sustainable Develop- 19-21October 2016, 22 June 2016 8 July 2016 ment Kadir Has University, Istanbul 21-22 September 2016, Columbia University, New York City, US
TRANSNATIONAL CRIME
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NEWS & COMMENTARIES
Six jailed for 'drug Shape-Shifting Crime in Europol: 7,000 Suspect- Smugglers us Uber- ambulance' smuggling an Age of Globalization ed Human Smugglers registered drivers to plot Michael Genovese, Identified; Price of move migrants to U.S. BBC News World Policy Blog Journey Triples border 29 June 2016 Alizeh Kohari, Reuters 4 July 2016 Organized Crime and 30 June 2016 Corruption reporting Project 29 June 2016 U.S. Trafficking in East Asian networks 'smuggle ivory across Persons Report: How Africa' does your country fare? Juliet Perry, CNN Navin Singh Khadka, 1 July 2016 BBC World Service 7 July 2016
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SELECTED PUBLICATIONS EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS UNODC World Drug Does Crime Still Pay? Freedom Conference: Black Hat USA 2016 Report Criminal Asset Recov- Trucking’s Connection July 30-August 4 2016, UNODC, ery in the EU: Survey of to Human Trafficking Nevada, USA 23 June 2016 Statistical Information July 28 2016, 2010-2014 Philadelphia, USA Europol, 1 July 2016 World Day against
Trafficking in Persons 30 July 2016
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND DISASTER RELIEF
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
A Gendered Perspec- Global Humanitarian tive: Safety, Dignity and Assistance Report 2016 Privacy of Camp and Development Initiatives Camp-like Settings in June 2016 Iraq The International Organisation for Migration (Iraq Mission) February 2016
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NEWS & COMMENTARIES EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
When disaster strikes, British humanitarian Aid & International De- World Humanitarian Day NGOs face €145m post- should China do more? velopment Forum Public Panel and Brexit shortfall Joanna Chiu, Global Disaster Relief Exhibition Ben Parker, IRIN News Summit 18 August 2016, IRIN News 7-8 September 2016, 8 June 2016 29 June 2016 Singapore Washington DC, USA As the Water Recedes: UN humanitarian coor- Sri Lanka Rebuilds dinator alarmed at dete- Vishalini Chandara Sagar, RSIS Commentary riorating conditions in 10 June 2016 besieged Syrian towns Cyclone Roanu exposed UN News Centre Sri Lankan disaster 5 July 2016 response gaps Nalaka Gunawardene, Sci Dev Net 16 June 2016 US Navy Ships Move to Philippines for Asia’s Largest Humanitarian Exercise Prashanth Parameswaran, The Diplomat 28 June 2016
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WATER SECURITY
NEWS AND COMMENTARIES
Why Asean must pay The great Indian river more attention to the trick Mekong Delta Soumya Sarkar, A. Ibrahim Almuttaqi, India Climate Dialogue The Straits Times 5 July 2016 14 June 2016 South Korea fears Now is the time to flooding from North manage our water discharging dam water S.K. Sarkar, Shinhye Kang, The Statesman Bloomberg 17 June 2016 5 July 2016 Courtesy of Flickr account of Tim Green and used under a creative commons license. Water’s role in the Taking a closer look at future of cities desalination SELECTED PUBLICATIONS Pete Saunders, Lori Harwoood, Forbes UA News A National Policy Water scarcity in the 7 July 2016 22 June 2016 Framework to address Arabian Peninsula and drought and water secu- socio-economic Israel leading a ‘water Solving Asia’s water rity in the United States, implications revolution’ in arid woes by 2030 Washington, DC Applied Water Science, California Tommy Koh, United States Senate Volume 6, Issue 3, pp. 1–14, Michelle Malka Grossman, The Straits Times Committee on Energy and George O. Odhiambo The Jerusalem Post 9 July 2016 28 June 2016 Natural Resources 2016 2016 Water economy China’s massive effort Syed Muhammad to purify seawater is Abubakar, drying up The News Yiting Sun, EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS 3 July 2016 MIT Technology Review 11 July 2016 Global Water World Water Week in Conference 2016 Stockholm 17–18 August 2016, 28 August – 2 September Yangon, Myanmar. 2016, Stockholm, Sweden.
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