9 May 2006 - Phnom Penh - Plan to improve recruitment methods of cross-border migrants endorsed by five GMS countries: The representatives from Governments, Workers', and Employers' Organizations agree to work together for improved cross-border recruitment practices of migrant workers. The meeting of the Sub-regional Advisory Committee (SURAC) also agreed a series of recommendations on ways to improve cross-border recruitment and called for more research to fill knowledge gaps. See the recommendations>

9 May 2006 - Governments, Workers, Employers Endorse 'Travel Smart - Work Smart' awareness-raising campaign on safe migration: The SURAC participants from Cambodia, China (Yunnan), Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam have endorsed a proposal by the ILO's Mekong Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women to proceed with the Travel Smart - Work Smart campaign which aims to improve awareness among migrants and potential migrants about the risks of human trafficking and labour exploitation en route and at their destination. The campaign will include information on safe migration and safe employment while raising awareness about employment alternatives closer to home, and other initiaitves already underway to improve local livelihoods.

NEW! 15 March 2006 - Government of Japan announces new ILO-IPEC sister project to assist victims of trafficking in Thailand and Philippines. The Japanese Government, in collaboration with the UN's Human Security Fund (UN-HSF), has allocated funds in excess of 211 million yen (1.98 million USD) to assist returned victims of trafficking resume normal lives in their home countries of Thailand and the Philippines. The "Economic and Social Empowerment of Returned Victims of Trafficking" project will work closely alongside the Mekong Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women, a prevention-based initiaitve also working in Thailand and four other Mekong countries. The main objective of this new project is to assist returnees by providing information and financial assistance to help them through the transitional period, and giving them a sounder footing to re-start their lives at home. This new project is expected to start this summer and run for three years. More>

12–16 December, 2005 – Bangkok Partnering with Children to Fight Trafficking: The ILO Mekong Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women and Save the Children UK continue their joint-efforts to promote the value of child participation in anti-trafficking efforts through a capacity building workshop “Working with Children to Fight Human Trafficking.” More than 30 participants from five countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region are taking part in this training course which brings together representatives of Government agencies, NGOs and youth workers.The workshop is a continuation of the Voices of Children initiative and incorporates valuable lessons learned in the successful Mekong Children's Forum on Human Trafficking. More>

Cambodia Ratifies ILO Convention to eliminate worst forms of child labour - The ratification process of ILO Convention 182 in Cambodia has now received Royal assent. The ILO convention (C 182) calls upon ratifying member states to take immediate action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour, including the human trafficking that leads to the sexual and labour exploitation of children. All five countries within the ILO's Mekong project area have now ratified C 182. This Convention was unanimously adopted by the International Labour Conference in 1999 and has experienced the fastest rate of ratification in the Organization's long history. This project, and its Geneva-based parent programme IPEC, provide technical assistance to Member States upon request to help them meet the obligations of C 182.

18 November - Bangkok New 'Good Practice' series launched: The ILO's Mekong project (TICW) has launched the first in a new series of 'Good Practice' publications to coincide with Universal Children's Day (20th November 2005). "First Hand Knowledge - Voices Across the Mekong: Community action against trafficking of children and women" documents the views of children and young women in five Mekong countries who have participated directly in the project's trafficking prevention initiatives. The publication also highlights the value of direct participation of vulnerable groups in region-wide sustainable counter-trafficking responses. Limited hardcopies available or download in PDF.

28 September - Bangkok The ILO's Mekong Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women introduces a new set of published research and reports. The Mekong Challenge series focuses on prevention measures as a major response to human trafficking of the most vulnerable groups – children and young women – especially within the context of internal movement and cross-border migration for employment. Rooted firmly in a human rights-based approach, the series investigates attitudes toward migration – at source in sending communities and at destination workplaces – and makes recommendations on ways to reduce the vulnerability faced by migrants and their families. View the growing collection here>

22 September - Phnom Penh - Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism teams up with the ILO's Mekong Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women to ensure the growing tourism industry in Cambodia is a safe place for young people to work and a sector free from child exploitation. The Ministries of Labour and Vocational Training, Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation and Women Affairs are also taking part in this coordinated effort. Learn more about these special efforts in English and Khmer. Also available are the opening remarks by the project's Chief Technical Adviser: (Eng) (Khmer). Detailed presentations are available in English and Khmer (choose slide-1 or slide-2)

19 September - Ho Chi Minh City - A groundbreaking workshop was held with representatives from the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to discuss ways and identify opportunities for VCCI members, and other Vietnamese enterprises, to contribute to a momentum-building initiative to protect young migrant workers from the risk of human traffickers. Another workshop is being planned with the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL). These meetings are the first of their kind, and undescore the ILO Mekong project's commitment to bring employers' and workers' organizations into the dialogue on counter-trafficking.

16 September - Bangkok - Government ministers, senior officials and representatives from workers' and employers' organizations from five Mekong countries call for more joint action to prevent trafficking in the sub-region. The host country, Thailand, one of the main destination countries for migrant workers, pledges to 'wholeheartedly' protect the rights of migrant workers and ensure equitable labour standards. More than 40 particpants took part in the high-level advisory committee session "SURAC". Full documentation available here. Also see the ILO news release in English and Thai.

8-9 September - Bangkok - High-level Meeting on Labour Aspects of Trafficking and Migration - Labour ministers and other high-level representatives from five Mekong countries meet in Bangkok to consider and advise future directions on the fight against the trafficking and labour exploitation of both cross-border and internal migrants. The meeting is hosted by the Thai Ministry of Labour and will also bring together workers' and employers' representatives. More info>

1 August - NOW AVAILABLE HERE ONLINE! Unofficial copies of six bilateral Memoranda of Understanding on Trafficking and/or Employment with neighbouring countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region inlcuding the multi-lateral COMMIT MOU. Available in Eng and Thai.

22 June - Hanoi - National Stakeholders' Ownership Exercise: Senior officials from Viet Nam’s Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and other relevant stakeoholders, met with senior ILO officials and project staff during a workshop to introduce the Project Management Unit (PMU). The workshop focused on expansion of project interventions in three target provinces. The Government of Viet Nam officially endorsed the project’s expansion in northern and southern Viet Nam in May. The project will focus on prevention of internal and cross-border trafficking.

1 - 12 June - Phnom Penh - Cambodians marked Children's Day and World Day Against Child Labour 2005 with a series of activities in the capital and across the country. In Phnom Penh, the Prime Minister led the observations with a parade and rally in a riverside park. Other activities included an art competion for youth and awareness raising exercises supported by the ILO's Cambodian project team.

1 June - Phnom Penh - Officials Receive Awards for Work to Combat Trafficking/Child Labour: Thetis Mangahas, Chief Technical Adviser of ILO Mekong Project (left) and Panudda Boonpala, ILO Senior Child Labour Specialist, pose for a photo after being awarded Cambodia's "Nation Building Gold Medal and Certificate." The Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation presented the awards to the pair for their "outstanding contribution and commitment for combating child labour and child trafficking in Cambodia."

16 May - Hanoi - The Vietnamese Government, through the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, today signed a Letter of Agreement with the ILO to continue the project's counter-trafficking work. The LOA allows for expanded research and activites to be carried out in southern Viet Nam as well as continued work in the north of the country. A workshop to discuss the plan of action takes place on 7 June.

18 - 19 May - Phnom Penh - Cambodia Reviews Five Years of Counter Trafficking Efforts - Prepares for New Plan of Action: Government Ministers, Foreign diplomats, International Organizations and NGOs take part in a high-level two day workshop to give a final assessment of the last five years of the National Plan of Action Against Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children and make recommendations for the new NPA (2005-2009). The workshop is being held at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation and is organized by the Cambodian National Council for Children (CNCC). It is supported by the ILO Mekong Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women.

13 May - Vientiane and Hanoi - Staff Comings and Goings - The Mekong project is pleased to announce the arrival of our new National Project Manager in Lao PDR, Mr. Kolakot Venevankham. We also bid a fond farewell and good luck to Mr. Troung Duc Tung, the National Project Coordinator in Hanoi, who is off to the United States to study human trafficking through a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship.

11 May - Bangkok - The International Labour Organization launches a new global report which, for the first time, estimates the number of people in forced labour. More than threee-quarters of the global figure of 12.3 million forced labourers are in the Asia-Pacific region. The report "A global alliance against forced labour," estimates that more than 1.4 million in the region are also victims of trafficking and calls for a global alliance to combat this modern day slavery.

4 May - Bangkok - The International Labour Organization's Sub-regional Office for East Asia today called for better protection of foreign domestic workers in Thailand following the 'shocking' attack of a 17 year old Burmese-Karen girl in the home of her Thai employer. Read the news release: Also available in Thai

26 April - Hanoi - The Viet Nam Women's Union (VWU) and the ILO through its Mekong Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women have launched a series of counter-trafficking activities to take place in ten provinces. The 16 month joint-project is supported by the Japanese Government. (VWU speech in Vietnamese)

28 March - Vientiane - LAO PDR Ratifies ILO Conventions 182 and 138 - The President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mr. Khamtay Siphadone, today promulgated ratification of ILO Convention 182 (Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour) and Convention 138 (Minimum Age for Admission to Employment). Ratification of these two key ILO Conventions will help officials in Lao PDR work toward the elimination of child labour and trafficking.

Now Available ! A full report on the process and outcome of the Mekong Children's Forum on Human Trafficking and a separate report back to the young delegates from five countries who took part. The children held a dialogue with senior Government officials from their countries at a gathering in Bangkok. They presented 43 separate Recommendations for Action to combat human trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. "Making History: People, Process and Particpation" A very useful tool for Governments, NGOs and other social agencies planning to organize an event involving child participation and consultation. Read and learn about ways to fight human trafficking directly from young people on the front line. Formats: Hardcopy, online PDF, and CD Rom (by request).

24 - 30 April, Greater Mekong Sub-region - Spotlight on gender parity in schools during Global Education For All Week. UN-ILO report calls for greater effort to get more girls into high school, especially in Cambodia and Lao PDR. More>

26 March, Hat Yai, Thailand - ILO Senior Child Labour Specialist Panudda Boonpala tells a meeting of provincial journalists in Thailand that local newspapers can play an influential role in advocating for better preventive measures in the fight against child labour and child trafficking of both Thai and foreign migrant children alike. Some of the journalists present indicated their newspapers are now increasing coverage of the issues. Speech in Thai available.

1 March - Kunming, China - Mr. Li Mingchao, Secretary of Yunnan Provincial Political and Legislative Committee and Director of the Yunnan Project Steering Committee, reports that since the project's implementation more than 1,100 girls under 17 have returned to school. Technical cooperation between partners in Yunnan and this ILO-IPEC project will continue apace, with new interventions to provide young migrant women and teens with the information they need to prevent trafficking. Speech in English and Chinese.

26 January - Vietiane, Lao PDR - The Lao PDR Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare today entered into an Memorandum of Understanding with the ILO for the Organization to offer advisory services and technical support to the Government relating to ratification and implementation of ILO Conventions, specifically the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (C182) and the Minimum Age Convention (C138). The MOU will remain in effect until 31 Dec 2008. The ILO mekong Sub-regional Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women will offer technical cooperation services to the Government, as well as Workers and Employers groups, and will work with local NGOs.

17 January 2005, Chiang Rai, Thailand - Anti-trafficking data collection centres, victim support hot-lines and Hill Tribe alternative income generation programmes are just a few of the activities planned for northern Thailand as the ILO-IPEC Mekong Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women teams up with MSDHS, Provincial Governors from Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao as well as partner NGOs and a school to launch anti-trafficking interventions in northern Thailand. More>>

20 November, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, Thailand - The ILO Mekong Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women sponsored six children to attend a Hill Tribe Concert in Chiang Mai. The concert was broadcast live on Radio Thailand and Thai TV 11, drawing listeners and viewers from minority communities in Thailand and border areas of Yunnan, China and Lao PDR. Meantime, in Chiang Rai, the project sponsored two other children to take part in a panel discussion on children's rights relating to counter-trafficking activities. Both events were designed to coincide with Universal Children's Day.

11 - 17 October, Bangkok - Trafficked and At-Risk Children Speak Out on Trafficking - ILO's Mekong Sub-regional Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women teamed up with Save the Children UK to organize the first Mekong Children's Forum on Human Trafficking. Children from five Mekong countries attended the Bangkok forum and presented Governments with the Mekong Children's Recommendations for Action on Human Trafficking. More >>>

9 October - The Road to Bangkok: Cambodia, China (Guangxi and Yunnan), Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam Hold Children's Forums This series of National and Provincial Forums was held during August/September 2004. At each forum children were selected from among their peers to travel to Bangkok for the Mekong Children's Forum on Human Trafficking, 11-17 October. The representatives from each of the forums carried with them their National/Provincial Agenda for Action on Human Trafficking. Links: Cambodia, China (Guangxi/Yunnan) Agenda,Thai News Release, Viet Nam Agenda for Action and News Release, Lao News Release.

11 May 2004, Thailand Ratifies ILO Minimum Age for Employment Convention The Royal Thai Government has ratified Convention C-138 on Minimum Age for Work. Thailand has now ratified the two major ILO Conventions relating to exploitative labour practices involving children. It ratified C-182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour in 2001.