MEDIA STATEMENT

CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL FOR ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

AND ANTI-SMUGGLING OF MIGRANT (MAPO) 

Cum 

SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

DATUK SERI  MOHAMAD KHALID  SHARIFF

SEED FUNDING FOR NGO SUPPORTED SHELTER HOME FOR

VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 

5 MARCH 2014 AT PUTRAJAYA

As The  Chairman of the MAPO Council I have issued the following statement: 

1. ┬á ┬á ┬á ┬áAs the Chairman of the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrant (MAPO), I am pleased to announce that the Ministry of Finance (MOF) has approved the seed funding amounting to RM801,000.00 for the implementation of the Pilot Project on ÔÇ£Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Supported Shelter HomeÔÇØ for victims of trafficking in persons.┬á

2.        At present, there are six (6) gazetted Shelter Homes under the supervision of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD). MWFCD is the lead Ministry for the Committee on Protection and Rehabilitation of Victims of Trafficking in Persons under MAPO.

3. ┬á ┬á ┬á ┬áÔÇ£Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Supported Shelter HomeÔÇØ will be managed by the Department of Women Development (DWD) under MWFCD and will be fully assisted by the appointed NGOs. The Pilot Project is expected to be operationalised by the final week of March 2014.┬á

4.        In most developed countries such as Australia, United Kingdom (UK) and United States of America (USA), the protection element is being spearheaded by the NGOs while the Government give more attention on other aspects of trafficking in persons namely prevention, enforcement and prosecution. However, the Government will continue to assist in terms of providing some financial support.

5.        I strongly believe that the implementation of the NGO supported Shelter Home is a crucial transition period for the country and a step in the right direction for Malaysia to encourage greater participations by the NGOs in according protection to victims of trafficking in persons.

6. ┬á ┬á ┬á ┬áAdditionally, Malaysia is fulfilling its commitment to proceed with this Pilot Project as announced during MalaysiaÔÇÖs Second Universal Periodical Review (UPR) in Geneva, Switzerland on 24 October 2013.