LAO GOVERNMENT EFFORTS IN REDUCING HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES IN

2011-2013
Chintia Aprian Nur Muntaha
International Relation Department
Faculty of Social and Political
Universitas Muhammadiyah
Yogyakarta
chintia.nur.isip17@mail.umy.ac.id
Submitted: 22 July 2022; accepted:
Abstrak
Penelitian ini mendeskripsikan sebuah tindakan dalam Menyelesaikan dan mengurangi
perdagangan perempuan dan anak di Laos. Laos merupakan salah satu negara yang
mengalami peningkatan kasus perdagangan manusia yang signifikan. Penelitian ini didukung
oleh teori Keamanan Manusia dan hukum hak asasi manusia internasional serta konsep
perdagangan laki-laki. Sedangkan tingkat analisis yang digunakan menyatakan. Fakta, data,
argumentasi, dan kerangka teori penelitian ini dirumuskan dengan menggunakan deskripsi
kualitatif. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memahami perdagangan perempuan dan anak di
Laos, dan untuk melihat tindakan pemerintah Laos dalam menyelesaikan masalah ini.
Perdagangan perempuan di Laos mengakibatkan banyak perempuan menjadi korban
perdagangan manusia ilegal. Ada faktor internal dan eksternal yang kami temukan. Faktor
internal adalah kemiskinan dan kondisi sosial budaya, sedangkan faktor eksternal adalah
keterlibatan jaringan kriminal.

Keywords: (Lao, Human Trafficking, Lao Government)

Abstract
This study describes an action in Resolving and reducing trafficking in women and children in
Lao. Lao is one of the countries that have a significant increase in human trafficking cases. This
research is supported by Human Security theory and international human rights laws and the
concept of trafficking men. While the level of analysis used states. The facts, data, arguments, and
theoretical framework of this research are formulated using qualitative descriptions. This study
aims to understand trafficking in women and children in Lao, and to see the action of Lao’s
government to resolve this problem. The trafficking of women in Lao results in many women
becoming victims of illegal human trafficking. There are internal and external factors that we
find. The internal factors are poverty and socio-cultural conditions, whilst the external factor is
the involvement of criminal networks.

Keywords : (Lao, Human Trafficking, Lao Government)

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PENDAHULUAN

Lao or its official name, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic is one of the few socialist
countries in the world and the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia (SEA). Lao is bordered
on the northwest by Myanmar and China, on the east by Vietnam, on the southeast by Cambodia,
and on the west and southwest by Thailand. Vientiane is Lao’s capital and largest town while
Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, and Pakse are other major cities. The Lao language is the official
language. However, there are other main languages that the Lao people use such as Hmong,
Khmu, and French. Lao is a multi-ethnic country, with Lao people who dominate politically and
culturally making up about 55% of the population, mostly in the lowlands. (WorldOMeters, 2019)
At the end of the 20th century, the various Lao peoples were officially grouped mainly by
language and location into one of three categories: Lao Loum ("Low Lao"), Lao Theung ("Lao of
the Mountain Slope"), and Lao Soung ("Laotian". from the Top of the Mountain") where they
have a mixed language with the official languages of Lao and French. (Osborne, n.d.)
The total population of Lao in 2019 was 6,961,210 million people. The population is
calculated live (directly), so it can change at any time, whether it increases or decreases.
The population growth of Lao from 2017 to 2019 increased by 1.50% or an increase of
103,050 people. If the total population in Lao is calculated, it is equivalent to 0.087% of the total
population in the world today. (WorldOMeters, 2019) Lao is a very religious nation, but its
practices are not very diverse within its borders. The State Department reports, “In most areas,
officials generally respect the rights of members of most religious groups to worship, even within
strict restrictions imposed by the government. In 2002, the Lao government issued a Decree on
religious practice. Although this decree is reported to have helped to ensure religious freedom in
many cases, it has also authorized government officials to oversee religious practice. However,
non-mainstream or non-Buddhist religious activities, especially among religious and ethnic
minorities, often continue to experience repression at the community local level. (Lum, january
4, 2010)
Theravada Buddhism is practiced by almost all the native or ‘lowland’ people. Aboriginal
or native people make up approximately half of the population. An extra 16% of non-native
people make the total of 66% of the Lao population Buddhist. The second commonly practiced
religion is Laotian folk religion, a religion whose features vary considerably depending on who
practices it and in which region of the country. Only 3% of the population are Christian or follow
a different religion. (World Population Review, 2019) Although the country's constitution
provides for religious freedom, in theory, the government limits this right in practice, particularly
concerning religious minorities. (Osborne, n.d.)
The economy of Lao is predominantly agricultural and has been heavily dependent on foreign
 3

assistance and investment since the late 20th century. The instability during the civil war era and
the economic policies of the early years of the Democratic People's Republic of Lao, especially
the effort to collectivize agriculture, culminated in the country's economic stagnation. Lowland
farmers generally cultivate irrigated rice fields, while highlanders cultivate rain-fed fields
(Osborne, n.d.). The government had started pursuing more realistic economic policies and
market-oriented reforms were implemented in 1986.
Since then, private and state-owned businesses have been working shoulder to shoulder to
attract foreign investment. Currently, Lao’s economy is one of the world's fastest-growing,
primarily due to its democratic government and private sector support. While the economic
situation as a whole is doing well, Lao remains one of the region's poorest countries, mainly due
to its disproportionately large and poorly educated labor force. One of the country’s top priorities
is to reduce poverty by increasing funding for education to deliver education to every child in the
country. Foreign investment maintains a large part of their economy. (Dommen et al., 2019)
Since the late 20th century, the development of the Laotian education system has
continued to struggle with underfunding, inadequate teacher training, and inadequate facilities.
Many children have a low level of education (Osborne, n.d.)
The Lao government is a one-party socialist republic, which means that the only legal
political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. Lao is ruled by the Lao People's
Revolutionary Party (LPRP) which is committed to defending the one-party state. Government,
legislature, courts, labor trade unions, mass media, and society remain steadfast, partly through
the extensive security apparatus. Despite the political restrictions on activities, relations between
Lao citizens and the government have generally calmed down in recent years (Lum, january 4,
2010)
The country is led by the president, Bounnhang Vorachith. The prime minister, who is the
real leader of the government, is Thongloun Sisoulith. According to history, Lao had been a
French protectorate until 1945, when it was briefly occupied by the Japanese towards the end of
World War II. Lao gained full independence as a constitutional monarchy from the French in
1954 where at that time civil war broke out between the royalists and communist group, the Pathet
Lao. (BBC News, 2018) In 1975, together with the Vietnam People's Army and supported by the
Soviet Union, the Pathet Lao overthrew the royal government of Lao, prompting King Savang
Vatthana to abdicate on 2 December 1975.
The government under Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh has made several efforts
to energize the Lao economy and society, as well as make the government more responsive. It
has pursued pro-market reforms and sought to reduce political corruption and cronyism. In May
2009, Prime Minister Bouasone signed an Association Decree establishing the legal framework
for the formation of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which foreign activists say is
the key to the formation of effective international NGOs. presence and civil society in Lao. (Lum,
 4

january 4, 2010)
To protect a country, human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of
race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or another status. Human rights include the
right to life, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, rights to work
and education, and much more. Everyone has the right to these rights, without discrimination.
(United Nations, 2019)
Everyone has the right to certain fundamental rights, precisely because they are
individuals. These are considered "human rights" instead of a privilege (which can be taken away
at the whim of somebody). These are rights because they are things that you can be, do, or have.
Such protections are there for your protection against those who may want to harass or injure you.
They are also there to help people get along and live in peace with each other. (Youth For Human
Rights, 2019)
There are many types of human rights such as the right to life, the right to expression, the
right to be free from gendered violence, the right to an adequate standard of living, and many
more. When people do not know human rights, abuses such as discrimination, intolerance,
injustice, oppression, and slavery can arise.
Lao is primarily a country of origin for trafficked persons, although some indications
indicate that the country is becoming a transit point for the trafficking of persons coming from
China. Lao women, men, and children have been traded throughout Southeast Asia, but mostly
to Thailand. Sexual exploitation is the most visible result of such trades, but there is no evidence
confirming that it is more common than forced and exploitative labor in factories, agriculture,
and fisheries. Migration tradition's strong power to work has obscured the boundary between
the unfavorable outcome of migrants on the one hand and trafficking on the other hand in the
minds of victims, criminal justice officials, and policymakers in both. The government’s
evaluator of these issue areas is part of the LPDR’sPDR response to trafficking.
historically, trafficking in persons can be regarded as slavery and also violates human
rights. This condition develops in economic communities that have a weak economic level, lack
of understanding of religion or morality, and depend on strong economic community groups. The
reasons given by victims are generally legal actions based on agreements. Human rights violations
in the form of slavery are generally in the form of deprivation of freedom from a person, which
is carried out by a strong economic group to a weak economic group. Therefore, on that basis, the
prevention of trafficking in persons from the perspective of human rights violations must be
carried out comprehensively and integrally, which can be done through the level of criminal law
policy through legislation, implementation, and justice.
The practice of trafficking in persons has become a crime that threatens the lives of the
general public. especially vulnerable, low-income, and low-educated people. one of the real
threats is the violation of the border area. Some of the violations in the border area include human
 5

trafficking (drugs, weapons, people), illegal logging, and illegal fishing.

Victims of human trafficking are complicated by this country's position as its origin.
Victims of Lao trafficking are very often identified only abroad by others and only after they have
been exploited. When the victims have returned and undergone the official repatriation process,
the government accepted the designation of their neighboring country, Thailand. However, many
victims were mistakenly identified by Thai officials as illegal immigrants and deported, both
legally and unofficially.
All deportees from several countries close to Lao were detained by Lao authorities upon
their return. Border officials who are responsible for processing a large number of deported
Laotians do not know the difference between smuggled migrants, illegal migrants, and migrating
persons. There are no checklists or other resources available to border officials to assist with the
process. While Laotian authorities have recently identified victims of trafficking of their own
accord, there is a great dependence on Thailand to do this for them. As a result, victims did not
identify or were misidentified and Lao failed to fulfill its obligations relevant to international law.
This had a negative impact on Laos. In social life, human trafficking can damage family
ties. Children who are victims of sexual exploitation will be branded as irreparably damaged
persons. Of course this affects the psychology of the victim. In the health sector, those who are
trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation are at risk of HIV/AIDS and other sexually
transmitted infections. In addition, the operations of these criminal groups have a
multidimensional effect where profits from the crime of human trafficking trigger other criminal
activities, such as drug trafficking which poses a security threat. great for Laos.
efforts made by the Lao government have not been successful in dealing with human
trafficking in Laos. Therefore, the role of non-state actors such as international organizations is
needed. In this case, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) also intervened to
help Laos in 2011. It is suspected that the Lao government requested assistance from UNODC to
intervene in its country in dealing with human trafficking. The Lao government chose UNODC
because of the success of their cooperation in drug abuse cases, which made Laos want to continue
to develop its cooperation with UNODC. In addition, the Director General of Police, Ministry of
Public Security of Laos acknowledged that the lax nature of Laos' borders makes it difficult to
deal with the threat of human trafficking crimes alone.
The ILO (international labor organization) is working with Laos in a program that has
been carried out by the ILO to solve the problem of human trafficking, especially for workers
who are illegal or smuggled in, which has a significant reduction. This collaboration also later
built a new organization for Laos, especially for workers, named LFTU or Lao federation trade
unions.
 6

Knowing this the Lao government is working on reducing victims of human trafficking
and providing regulations. The government is also entering cooperation with the International
Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
7

KERANGKA PEMIKIRAN
1. Human Trafficking Concept
The crime of human trafficking, according to Rebecca Surtees and Martha
Wijaya, is a "criminal syndicate," which is a group of people created to carry out illicit
acts. Based on the foregoing definition, the crime syndicate must be perpetrated by more
than one individual who has committed a crime in the process. The activities of this
women's and children's trafficking organization are well-organized.. (farhana, sinar
grafika 2010 ) It is also defined as any attempt or action relating to the recruitment,
purchase, sale, transfer, delivery, or receipt of a person using deception or coercion,
including the use of threats of force or abuse of power or debt bondage to place or detain
that person, whether paid or not, for unwanted work (domestic sexual or reproductive)
in forced labor or conditions of slavery, in an environment other than the one in which
the person lived at the time of the fraud, pressure or debt bondage for the first time.
According to the UN Protocol, human trafficking is defined as the
recruitment, transfer, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons for exploitation through
the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, or abuse
of power or vulnerability, or the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to obtain the
consent of someone who has power over another person. Exploitation for the sake of
prostitution or other types of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or
behaviors akin to slavery, servitude, or organ harvesting are all examples of exploitation
recruitment, transfer, transfer, harboring, or receipt of a child for exploitation is
considered trafficking in persons. A child is any person under the age of 18 years old
This child is involved in trafficking as people will use the child with the purpose or intent
of exploitation. Exploitation includes at least the exploitation of the prostitution of others
or other forms of exploitation of sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, servitude, and
organ harvesting.
Referent identifies that security should be considered in problems where
security analysis should start with the individual as the focus. The core values, threats,
and nature of the security problem identify the values that need to be safeguarded and
the types of threats faced in the problem. (Caballero-Anthony, 2000)

According to Freitas, individual determination insecurity is a matter of priority

and concern in handling humanitarian cases which are then developed in human security
where there are two dimensions, both positive and negative, in the post of concept it
indicates an expansion of the concept of security where there is no individual threat. The
objective is to improve universal welfare and strengthen the concept of human rights and
negatively where internal security is exclusively based on the international system, for
 8

example, the case of citizenship and the justice of the applicable law. (Freitas)

Based on the theory above, any attempt or action related to the recruitment,
purchase, sale, transfer, delivery, or receipt of a person using fraud or coercion, including
the use of threats of force or abuse of power or obligation to locate or detain this person,
whether paid or not. Both core values, threats, and nature of security issues identify the
values that must be safeguarded and the types of threats that must be faced together to
build good security.

2. Obligations of States in International Human Rights Law

The state's commitment to protecting human rights is divided into three stages:
respect for human rights, protection of human rights, and the last fulfillment of human
rights. The state's commitment and obligation to protect human rights, which will be
examined in more detail, requires the state to take proactive steps to protect citizens and
other people in its jurisdiction from human rights violations committed by other countries,
private companies, and the state itself. (Office of United Nations High Commission for
Human Rights)

The state's obligation to respect human rights can be divided into two, namely
immediate obligations and progressive obligations. The state's direct obligations towards
human rights are often realized in the form of a juridical process, while progressive
obligations are obligations that can be removed if there is a lack of supporting resources.
The state's obligation to respect (Respect) human rights and the obligation to protect
(Protection) human rights are seen as direct obligations.

There are also legal obligations that are directly related to the fulfillment of
human rights. These legal obligations (legal obligations) are manifested in two forms,
namely:
1. The obligation to improve, which is manifested in state policies, is the establishment
of public institutions for the fulfillment of these rights.
2. The obligation to provide, such as the provision of resources enjoyed by the public
for the fulfillment of human rights. (Office of United Nations High Commission for
Human Rights)
This obligation has a progressive nature in the sense that the fulfillment of this
obligation is a continuation of the obligation to protect and respect human rights, and its
application is relative to the ability of the state to carry it out. (Comment, 1990)

The state must take steps to prevent human rights violations and use possible
means to carry out serious investigations into human rights violations that occur within its
9

territory. This is done to identify those responsible, impose appropriate penalties, and
ensure adequate compensation for victims

The responsibility of the state is also based on the Doctrine of Equality and the
Doctrine of State's Sovereignty, wherein states with equal degrees can hold other countries
accountable for violations of their sovereignty.

The state has responsibility for the elements of the people and elements of its
government. The people also have a responsibility to maintain peace among others and
build a healthy scope. Cooperation between countries and people has a very important role
to build security and comfort between each other

The Palermo Protocol is an agreement that contains a binding legal instrument

that creates obligations for all countries that ratify or accede to it to prevent, suppress, and
punish the trafficking of people, especially women. This agreement is a bridge between
the people and the state to help each other create security and build just human rights.
3. Cooperation with international organizations
Several important points explain pluralism as a form of state cooperation with
supporting actors, either organizations, NGOs, or other forms of supporting actors: (Viotti,
1993)
Non-state actors are an important fact in international relations its means
International organizations, for example, can become independent actors based on their
rights. This institution has policymakers, bureaucrats, and various groups whose influence
on the policy-making process can be considered.and MNCs cannot be considered
marginal actors, because they can create interdependence in the world economy.
The state is not the sole actor its means that The state is made up of bureaucrats,
interest groups, and individuals who seek to influence the policy-making process and The
nation-state is not an integrated entity, because state and non-state actors are often
involved together in formulating activities and 5 Although the defensive version of
realism also emphasizes cooperation, the emphasis of liberal theory in this regard is much
greater. International Relations Theory is a Paradigmatic Approach (Saeri) to international
relations, and often results in and receives consequences for its international activities.
The state is not a rational actor.Pluralist’s challenge realizes that the state is not a
rational actor. A country's foreign policy results from disputes, bargains, and compromises
between different actors.and the process of making foreign policy is not rational but a
social process. The process of making foreign policy is a coalition and a contractual
coalition that can reduce the optimization of the goals to be achieved.
 10

The International Political Agenda is very broad.Pluralists reject the domination

of military and security issues in international relations. International relations have
comprehensive and varied agenda.and Since the last thirty years economic and social
issues have taken a leading position in international debates.This means that the state
needs cooperation between supporting actors to solve problems that occur in the country,
this also makes the state increasingly able to solve problems both internally and externally.

To reduce human trafficking in Lao, the state finally issued these efforts: the Law
on Development and Protection of Women 18 in 2004, the Law on the Protection of the
Rights and Interests of Children in 2006, and the National Action Plan for 2007-2011 which
aims to combat the sexual exploitation of children.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) also intervened to help
Lao in 2011. It is suspected that the Lao government requested assistance from UNODC to
intervene in its country in dealing with human trafficking. The Lao government chose
UNODC because of the success of their cooperation in drug abuse cases, which made Lao
want to continue to develop its cooperation with UNODC. In addition, the Director-General
of Police, Ministry of Public Security of Lao acknowledged that the weak nature of Lao’s
borders makes it difficult to deal with the threat of human trafficking. UNODC is
collaborating with the Ministry of Justice to strengthen the rule of law regarding human
trafficking and the country's continued development through a 6-year project known as
LAOX26 (UNODC, “Final independent project evaluation of the Strengthening Criminal
Justice, 2016)

The ILO (international labor organization) is one of the organizations under the
coordination of the United Nations organization that focuses on discussing and dealing with
labor problems in the world and one of the efforts to overcome humanitarian problems. The
ILO’s Law number 182 of 1999 explains the worst forms of child labor which is a priority
to be overcome, and this entails all forms of violence against children, and humanitarian
problems (M.Saeri, febuary 2012)

Lao is working with the UNODC organizations and the ILO to create security and
support and reduce the problem of trafficking in persons. This program has already been
implemented and will continue to be implemented. The Lao government also wants to
uphold its responsibilities and carry out its obligations to protect the people so that the
people have confidence in the government.
 11

METODE PENELITIAN

The research method used in this research is a descriptive qualitative method. In this study,
the qualitative method does not carry out pure calculations and processes numerical data but
utilizes existing data from various sources. Descriptive research is research that explains various
things related to research problems, both in the form of phenomena and symptoms that appear,
responses to phenomena, and actions to policies that arise in research problems.

In this study the authors collect data through library research techniques, the authors use
books, articles, journals, and news from various media. In this study, the authors also use internet
facilities to obtain additional data for this study.
 12

HASIL PENELITIAN

Background of Human trafficking

Human trafficking is a form of transnational organized crime. One approach used to
understand the definition of transnational organized crime is to see it as two broad concepts: as
an entity and as an activity. As an entity, transnational organized crime is defined as a set of
organized entities that carry out various commercial activities that are unified and based on a
business model called the protection racket. Meanwhile, as an activity, this transnational
organized crime can include trafficking in people or drugs, people smuggling, money
laundering, arms trafficking, and environmental crimes committed by a criminal group
regardless of the structure or size of the crime organization. (UNODC, United nations
convention against transnational organized crime and the protocol thereto, 2004)
Lao is listed as the country with the second-highest number of victims of human
trafficking in Southeast Asia, with 195 people being a victim in 2011. The Lao government has
made various efforts since the emergence of the issue of human trafficking in Lao. Lao is no
exception to this regional problem. The US State Department of Trafficking in Persons Report
has almost consistently ranked Lao as Tier 2 since 2001, meaning that the US government
considers that the State does not fully meet the minimum standards expected in the fight against
trafficking in persons even though Trafficking Victims protection laws provide a waiver
(Annisa Novia, 2019)

The reason human trafficking occurs in Lao

The phenomenon of human trafficking occurring in Lao has a basic reason for the
phenomenon.
Increased development and urban job opportunities mean there is now a labor shortage in Lao.
Young people in particular, who are pressed to provide additional income for their families, are
attracted by the prospect of higher wages, more modern lifestyles, and ease of integration into
neighboring Thailand which shares a common culture and language. This is a common thing.
The phenomenon of Laotian youth migrating to seek opportunities abroad in Thailand is
common enough to the point that they are commonly referred to as dek Kham daen or 'children
who cross borders' Customary law that is still in effect
Not only persistent severe poverty, but the customary laws of these groups themselves
may have a particular impact on the exposure of ethnic girls to sexual exploitation as they
maintain strict gender roles and inequalities. Women are traditionally ostracized from cultural
power structures, refused to bring cases for cultural conflict resolution without representation by
 13

male relatives and, when they speak of procedures, their words are generally more valuable than
men's. Urbanization
When involved in prostitution, girls are reported to prefer to travel to unknown places and they
also often move from one place to another. Therefore, this movement does not necessarily only
occur in rural to urban areas. Girls move to provide sex services where there is the greatest
demand after construction projects, which often employ migrant workers who come to Lao
without their families, and other events and conferences. However, not enough is known about
these girls, who are even more isolated because the local people view them as outsiders.
Evidence of human trafficking in Lao

Human trafficking in Lao is not only buying and selling to candidates. There are many
types forms of human trafficking in Lao. Some of the forms of human trafficking that occur in
the Greater Mekong sub-region Men and women are involved in exploitation in illegal factories,
mining, construction, plantations, and agriculture. Boys and girls from Cambodia and Myanmar
are exploited and forced to beg and sell flowers in downtown Thailand. (INTERNATIONAL,
2013)
Lao women are also trafficked to Vietnam, China and other state for sexual exploitation in
coastal and urban areas, despite the high level of awareness and prosecution rates for sex
trafficking offenses in the country, which stood at 153 in 2010. (fross, 2012)

Anti-trafficking law and Evidence of human trafficking in Lao

The Anti-Trafficking in-personal law and the Law on the Protection of the Rights and
Interests of the Child define a child as any person under the age of 18 years Article 4. This
situation applies especially to girls who are the ones more likely to feel indebted to their
parents. There is a written plan, the implementation of which is an effort to meet minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons. (Breese, 2017)
Increase in the number of human trafficking in Lao
Current measures made by the Lao government do not constitute sufficient evidence of a
significant increase in anti-trafficking measures compared to the previous reporting period,
which resulted in Lao being placed on the Level 2 Watch List for its third year. Lao is mostly a
source country for human trafficking. Trafficking is not only international. Domestic trade is
also happening in Lao and continues to increase. A previous qualitative study observed girls
between the ages of 12 and 1 and found that 35% of them ended up being exploited in
prostitution. (ASEAN, 2016) These figures show that the problem is not a new phenomenon and
not only a matter of lack of information and relatively recent action by the government
submitted its second periodic report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, covering the
years 1997 to 2005, (ASEAN, 2016) that economic progress and development, combined with
 14

inequality in income and a lack of resources to effectively control regional borders, meaning an
increased risk of trafficking among women and children. There is also a study published in 2016
that illustrates violence against children, with 15% of women experiencing physical violence in
their childhood and 17.2% of men. (Breese, 2017)
Support organizations in reducing human trafficking in Lao
Village Focus International is an organization (NGO) that works to help reduce the level
of human trafficking in Lao. They provide examples of common scenarios where female
brokers, most often associated with or known to families in poor rural areas, present a girl with
job opportunities. These brokers offer assistance to cross the border into Thailand and arrange
paperwork and transportation On arrival, girls often find themselves forced to become sex
workers in karaoke bars, massage parlors, or, beauty salons on the pretext that they have to
repay debts incurred for taking them across the border. In some cases, many of the victims
ended up in death and many of them were forced to continue working and some may continue
to be trafficked in the future (focus, 2016)
The phenomenon of globalization (Internet)
The applicable law can already be said to cover dealings in combating the criminal act of
trafficking in persons because prostitution is illegal and the penalties can be harsh, to avoid
detection so many girls avoid basing themselves in certain physical locations. The phenomenon
of Sao meu teu or 'mobile girl', was carried out to avoid the open encounter of the perpetrators
of this human trafficking practice. The development of certain websites and chat rooms attests
to the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism in popular destinations such as Luang
Prabang, Vang Vieng, and Vientiane. This suggests that Lao can do more to Combat the Sexual
Exploitation of Children if it is to learn from the past experiences of other countries, and
tackling all forms of sexual exploitation through a holistic approach. (Breese, 2017)
Tourism
In general, as tourism in Lao grows, so does the demand for sex workers. With tourism now
being the fastest growing sector in Lao, the risk of child sex offenders entering the country is
increasing and the sexual exploitation of children through travel and tourism is considered a
growing phenomenon. Due to the complex dynamics in the region, a large number of Lao
children and youth present in neighboring countries are exposed to the SEC because, for
example, requests for sexual exploitation from travelers in Thailand, should also be considered.
(Breese, 2017)

UNODC (United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime)

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is a global leader in the fight against
illicit drugs and international crime, in addition to being responsible for implementing the
United Nations lead program on terrorism. UNODC has 20 field offices in over 150 countries
 15

that mutually work together as well as work directly with governments and non-governmental
organizations. (UNODC, 2019)
UNODC program
The program launched by UNODC to the government will describe efforts made by
UNODC as an IGO in resolving the problem of human trafficking as an IGO . The UNODC as
an IGO plays a role main in strengthening and coordinating response against criminal justice
against human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. The United Nations Protocol provides a
clear mandate to UNODC to support state efforts: (UNODC, A Comprehensive Strategy to
Combat Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, 2012)
The fourth role run by UNODC according to the mandate was given by the United Nations
through the Plan Global Action for Combat Human Trafficking adopted by the General
Assembly in 2010 together with the resolution from another General Assembly. Remember the
broad mandate from the United Nations and the expertise that has developed during the decade.
Lastly, UNODC is trying to position itself as a leading policy and center for response to public
international human trafficking
UNODC Strategy
The UNODC has gathered information and issued a report every 2 years about the pattern
and flow of human trafficking at the global, regional, and national levels. A series of actions
UNODC is taking to prevent and combat human trafficking like to do campaign is also one of the
methods for increasing public awareness about the consequences and effects of human trafficking
of Protocols and Capacity Building
To fight trafficking in person and smuggling migrants, the state must have a framework work
comprehensive legislature in applying obligations at the international level. national legislation
should also give basic necessary laws to ensure investigation and prosecution of effective criminal
law, ensure victim and witness protection in court, as well as give protection and assistance to
victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants. UNODC must ensure that national policies and
strategies until the regional strategy are comprehensive and reflect practice best in scope
international. Planning strategic and development policy (UNODC, A Comprehensive Strategy
to Combat Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of MIgrants, 2012)
UNODC convention
The main issues that UNODC handles are trading People and Smuggling Migrants.
UNODC does a series of binding conventions by law on 29 September 2003 (convention, 2003)
under which States Parties committed taking series of action against crime transnational
organized. Countries that ratify the convention have a Duty for creating crime domestic to fight
the problem, adopt framework work all-new for help law of reciprocity, extradition, cooperation
in law enforcement, technical help, and training. The convention signifies the important stages in
handling transnational crime and confessing serious prob problems seemed by crime and
 16

obtaining understanding from member countries about the importance of cooperative action.
Lao Main Program with UNODC (LAOX 26)
In Lao PDR, UNODC Lao Country Office works together government to fight
drugs, trade humans, corruption, and money laundering, strengthen supremacy law, and
continue the country’s development. This project is directed by and project previously
implemented by UNODC in partnership close with the Ministry of Justice, and
responding to needs identified by the Lao Government and UNODC that complement
current job in progress from other parties in the sector counter-trade people at home and
abroad. The Lao government has to ask UNODC for assistance in doing the proposed
intervention to create sustainable and tangible results and impacts.
In activities carried out by Lao and UNODC fighting human trafficking in the
end Lao and UNODC made a program called ' Strengthen Response Justice criminal
against trade Humans at Lao PDR' Project” (Newkirk, 2016)
The destination project from the existence of this LAOX26 (Newkirk, 2016) is Development
Goals of a millennium nature are Promote Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment and the
Sustainable Development Goals agenda until promote peaceful and inclusive society or
development sustainable; gives access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and
inclusive institutions at all, End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all form violence against and
torture child. A large part is focused on the need to increase regular communication with
committee members and direct projects and maintain dialogue with go the government and
various interest part to develop an understanding of human trafficking.
Design from the LAOX26 program the project design also focuses on interventions in the
areas of: (Newkirk, 2016)

1) Legal reform.
2) Enhancement of capacity and cooperation.
3) Empowerment and awareness of victims of their rights. (Newkirk, 2016)
4) This collaboration produces The Lao government discussion with GLO.ACT,
regarding proper design and framework for the complete problem and the focus
area, will include: Destination cross limit. Trading man is problem cross limit, so handling
no just effort More provinces widespread in Lao, but also a problem with neighboring
countries, viewed as the critical thing (Newkirk, 2016)
Advantages and Disadvantages of this program is validation of the Constitution
regarding human trafficking are the most visible and prominent results of the project, of
focus in response to the use of basic human and gender rights, from a clear focus on
violence to project handling human trafficking, approach based on right only once implied
the design project no once mentioned by special. Right basic people and gender are focus
 17

areas special in the training program which is an activity project. , and implementation,
are not seen in reporting, which is high activity-focused and lacks emphasis on planned
and intended results.

ILO (Interinasional Labor Organization)

the ILO, is one of the international organizations that have superiority in resolving
the problem of human trafficking. The ILO and Lao work together and produce programs
together. The government also worked together with the Lao Federation of Trade Unions
(LFTU), a national organization which is in the field of labor and migration in Lao. The
ILO Constitution was established in advance in 1919 by the Commission of Labor, which
at the time was chaired by Samuel Gompers, who was also head of the f American
Federation of Labor (AFL) in the United States, and other representatives consisted of nine
countries: Belgium, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, France, Italy, Japan, Poland, the United
Kingdom, and the United States. (ILO), 2021)
These ideas are stated in the Preamble of the ILO’s Constitution, wearing the
vision and mission include (ILO), 2021)
a. That universal and eternal peace only could be built if based on justice and social
b. And while conditions work something involved injustice, hardship, and deprivation for
amount big people so produce such anxiety big so that world peace and harmony is
threatened, and repair condition is very necessary
c. Whereas failure of a count to adopt a condition
The ILO has a vision in which is to realize decent jobs for men and women. This thing is
listed on the ILO's biggest agenda, the Decent work, their vision represents all divisions of
workers and all job aspects, such as recent jobs, as well as decent conditions. Other aspects of
work, for example, decent wages for health workers, social protection, law protection, a de decent
work informant, and basic worker rights, will be achieved. The IL's mission is to promote
opportunity for women and men to achieve decent and productive work, with the promise of
freedom, equality, security, and honor . (ILO Vision and Priorities 2010-15, 2009)
The structure of the ILO, in which workers and employers together have the same voice
with the government in the discussion, shows social dialogue in action. Among them is to
promote and realize principles and rights regarding the standards and basics in work, make more
and bigger opportunities for women and men to work and receive decent wages, increase reach
and effectiveness in social protection for all, and strengthen tripartism and social dialogue . The
whole destination strategy is poured into the big agenda of the ILO, namely the Decent work.
Lao joined the ILO on 23 January 1964. (ILO), 2021) The ILO has worked with governments,
and other organizations for workers and entrepreneurs to support Lao in promoting decent jobs
for all. Especially workers and perpetrators of human trafficking activities such as slaves,
 18

housemaids, sex workers, etc., Lao then created an NGO (Non -governmental organization)
community o is engaged in the rights of laborers, workers, and migrants in Lao
LFTU Policy and Action Plan on Migration (2011-2013)
Guild role worker for protecting rights of all workers enshrined by law Labor and Law
Union Workers in Lao and hence the Federation Union Lao Workers (LFTU) committed to
protect rights of worker migrants and ensure safe migration through governance system migration
power effective work. (LFTU), 2011)
Plan LFTU Action for Protect Worker Migrant was adopted at the LFTUILO Workshop
held on 10-11 August 2011 in Vang Vieng. The Action Plan consists of 21 fields. The
interventions are organized under five broad thematic strategies. The Action Plan will be held
with the support of “Action ILO tripartite for Protect Worker Migrant from Labor Exploitation
(TRIANGLE project ) ” and progress implementation will be reviewed every year by the LFTU
and TRIANGLE projects, with help technical from ILO experts on activity workers. (LFTU),
2011)
The Lao Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU) led by Tuan Theo van der Loop runs
Migrant Worker Resource Centers (MRCs). LFTU members serving on MRC staff receive
ongoing training on gender equality and migration, including gender mainstreaming, gender
stereotypes, and issues affecting some Laotian women migrant workers, such as irregular
migration, exploitation, violence, and human trafficking, and security coordinated migration
processes and quality services
Among migrant workers and potential migrant workers, LFTU staff, and the general
public.

a. Organize workshops to disseminate information on the roles, rights, and duties of Trade
Unions on Migrant Worker Protection for Party members, officials, and civil society
actors to receive better cooperation from central to local levels.

b. Develop information materials and use mass media channels to raise awareness of
potential risks and benefits of migration, safe and legal migration procedures, rights at
work, laws, and culture in destination countries, etc.

c. Educate secondary school students with pre-employment training covering job

opportunities in Lao, the potential risks and benefits of migration, and safe migration.

d. Provide pre-departure training to potential migrant workers on safe and legal migration
procedures, rights at work, laws, and culture in destination countries, etc.

e. Provide training for voluntary returnees and deported migrants about employment
opportunities in Lao and legal migration procedures.
 19

f. Disseminate information to LFTU staff on the LFTU migration policy, principles, and
action plan.

g. Organize events to raise awareness and advocate for strengthened policies and practices,
on International Migrants Day, for example.

KESIMPULAN
Southeast Asia is one of the regions that has a strategic and important position,
especially as a trafficker of transnational crime. One of the transnational crime activities that are
highly highlighted in the Southeast Asian region is human trafficking activities, where this
region is the largest supplier of human trafficking. Data from the International Organization for
Migration (IOM) shows that Lao is the second country in Southeast Asia with a total of 195
victims of human trafficking in 2011.
Those who are victims have been tricked into getting high-paying jobs in other
countries. However, in the end, they are exploited, either in the form of forced labor
exploitation or sexual exploitation. Of course, Lao faces many challenges in overcoming this
problem because apart from being a source country for cases of trafficking of women and
children for sexual purposes.
Lao is also a transit country for women and children. Increased economic growth
combined with income inequality and lack of resources to control border areas is the main
causes of the increased risk of human trafficking in Lao. The Lao government has also made
various efforts to overcome this problem but has not succeeded because of the weak law
enforcement factor. Until 2011, the Lao government asked UNODC for assistance to intervene
in its country in the fight against human trafficking. Through various activities and programs
carried out in Lao, UNODC also claims that its efforts have reached an effective stage in
implementing the Trafficking in Persons Protocol.
As for the various efforts made by UNODC, namely, the UNODC conducted research
and increased public awareness about the crime of human trafficking. The real results can be
seen in the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, which is published every two years. Then
campaigns at the provincial, district, and village levels were carried out to increase public
awareness about the dangers of human trafficking and its impacts.
Second, UNODC carried out a special program for Lao by creating the LAOX26
program, but this program has not been able to be efficient and has not been able to implement
properly and effectively. The program entails special training for frontline officers to detect and
prohibit cross-border trade.
In the field of criminal justice, UNODC has succeeded in drafting and enacting anti-
trafficking laws and instructions to strengthen the national law on trafficking in persons in Lao.
 20

This was done by training 700 officials from criminal justice institutions at 89 provincial and
district levels, organizing national and regional meetings to disseminate the law, and organizing
workshops on trafficking at the national, bilateral, and regional levels. In the area of protection
and support for victims, UNODC provides housing, medical services, legal support, education,
training, job opportunities, provides financial support, and support for the reintegration and
repatriation of victims.
In addition to collaborating with UNODC, the government of Lao is also working with
the ILO in overcoming and reducing human trafficking activities through a conference held in
2011, which has the aim that there are no illegal workers or slaves who have no legal force, four
strategies destination to achieve the main goals of the establishment of the ILO. Among them
are to promote and realize the principles and standards of rights and fundamentals at work,
create more opportunities for women and men to work and earn a living, increase the reach and
effectiveness of social protection for all, and strengthen tripartism and social dialogue
LFTU Policy and Action Plan on Migration (2011-2013) is a conference of the ILO
and labor working groups from Lao who work together to reduce illegal workers and labor
victims
 21

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