1. I extend my warmest greetings and best wishes to all Myanmar citizens residing throughout the Republic of the Union of Myanmar for good health and well-being in both body and mind, and for lives filled with peace, prosperity, and every blessing.
2. Since 1997, Myanmar has designated the fight against human trafficking as a national responsibility and has undertaken measures to prevent and suppress such crimes. Furthermore, Section 358 of the 2008 Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar explicitly stipulates that “The Union prohibits the enslaving and trafficking in persons.” Accordingly, with a view to encouraging the entire people to participate and cooperate in combating human trafficking nationwide, 13 September was designated as Myanmar Anti-Trafficking in Persons Day in 2013. The observance has now reached its 14th anniversary.
3. Human trafficking is one of the gravest forms of human rights violation and constitutes a transnational crime being combatted by countries around the world, as it severely undermines and destroys the development of humanity as a whole and human dignity. Along with changes in global trends and advances in technology, contemporary forms of human trafficking have become increasingly sophisticated and complex. In particular, trafficking in persons associated with online forced labour and online fraud perpetrated through the use of cyber technology has emerged as a new challenge for countries in the region, including Myanmar.
4. In Myanmar, under the leadership of the Central Body for Suppression of Trafficking in Persons, four Working Committees and Regional Bodies for Suppression of Trafficking in Persons at various levels have been systematically established. Five-year National Plans have been formulated to implement activities relating to Policy and Cooperation, Prevention, Prosecution, and Protection, with three strategies, four tactics, and four areas of work identified and implemented accordingly.
5. At present, the relevant ministries are systematically and harmoniously implementing the activities set out in the 2026 Work Plan, which is the fifth year of the Fourth Five-Year National Plan for Combatting Trafficking in Persons in Myanmar (2022-2026), with a view to completing the planned activities within the designated period.
6. Myanmar ratified the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNCTOC), adopted in 2000, together with its supplementary protocols, namely the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, on 30 March 2004. Myanmar also ratified the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP) on 6 January 2017.
7. Furthermore, Myanmar has been actively striving to prevent and suppress human trafficking by signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with neighbouring countries on bilateral cooperation in combating human trafficking, and by actively participating in regional and international cooperation mechanisms, including the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime (Bali Process), the Lancang-Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Centre (LMLECC), and the ASEAN Multi-Sectoral Work Plan (2023-2028), including the BOHOL TIP Work Plan 2.0.
8. In Myanmar, cases of trafficking in persons for forced marriage to neighbouring countries, forced prostitution, forced labour, other forms of sexual exploitation, and the removal of human organs, among others, have been uncovered and perpetrators have been arrested.
9. Effective and prompt
investigations were conducted to expose perpetrators of human trafficking and
impose appropriate legal penalties in accordance with the law. From January
2026 to date, 235 offenders involved in 83 exposed cases have been prosecuted
under the Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Persons Law, leading to
the rescue of 143 trafficked victims. Findings reveal that among Trafficking in
Persons cases, forced marriage accounted for 63.86 per cent, forced labour for
15.66 per cent, forced prostitution for 14.46 per cent, other forms of sexual
exploitation for 4.82 per cent, and removal of organs from the body of any
other person at 1.20 per cent. Consequently, relevant ministries are
extensively collaborating through technological means to effectively suppress
organized crime rings and prevent deceptive recruitment tactics that utilize
fake job advertisements and financial incentives across social media platforms.
10. Regarding sentencing, from January 2026 to date, appropriate legal penalties
were imposed on 122 offenders involved in 69 cases convicted under the
Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Persons Law. Among them, two were
sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment, 33 to 20 years’ imprisonment, 79 to 10
years and above, and eight to under 10 years’ imprisonment.
11. It has been identified that illegal recruitment operations are actively taking place, using seductive incentives to persuade and transport individuals to various destinations, including neighbouring countries and the Middle East. Legal action has been taken against these illegal brokers under the 1999 Law Relating to Overseas Employment, and appropriate assistance has been provided to the victims in accordance with the law. From January 2026 to date, 23 cases have been prosecuted under the Law Relating to Overseas Employment, leading to legal action taken against a total of 73 offenders, comprising 34 males and 39 females.
12. As prevention serves as an effective deterrent, public awareness campaigns against human trafficking, including crime news, articles, poems, short stories, songs, and educational panel discussions, are being broadcast and published through state-owned media, alongside awareness messages sent via mobile phone SMS operators.
Furthermore, hotline channels have been expanded, enabling the effective receipt of information, real-time investigation, legal action, and victim rescue operations. In addition, relevant ministries are collaborating to raise public awareness not only in urban areas but also down to rural communities by conducting anti-trafficking awareness lectures, erecting educational billboards, and distributing pamphlets and stickers in high- traffic public areas such as bus terminals, jetties, airports, and railway stations.
13. Educational programs on safe migration are actively being conducted to raise awareness among individuals intending to work abroad about the risks of illegal migration, including potential human trafficking, forced labour, denial of full labour rights, and limited employment opportunities. Furthermore, preventive measures are being implemented at international airports, where departing individuals are provided with WhatsApp and Viber QR codes that allow them to contact the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Police Force directly for assistance.
14. In addition, close cooperation with relevant ministries is being carried out to repatriate foreign nationals back to their respective countries in response to requests for assistance submitted by foreign embassy representatives in Myanmar and via Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB) channels, on behalf of foreigners who entered Myanmar through border areas for various reasons and encountered diverse hardships.
15. As fraudulent recruitment for illegal online gambling dens and online scam operations in border areas is increasingly carried out through organized crime networks, joint efforts with relevant ministries have been intensified to prevent illegal entry and human trafficking. Inspection and educational activities are being actively conducted at city checkpoints, bilateral border crossings, and international airports to raise awareness, intercept individuals, and facilitate their safe return home.
16. To combat online scams involving
deceptive recruitment, labour exploitation, forced labour, and human
trafficking, the Anti-Online Scam Law was enacted on 31 July 2026, under
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Law No 3. This legislation enables effective collaboration
with both domestic and international organizations to ensure real-time
technical monitoring, investigation, and enforcement against online fraud.
Ultimately, it aims to protect the public from the devastating financial and
personal losses caused by these scams.
17. In terms of protection, victim care and rehabilitation support, including
psycho-social counselling, family reintegration, and vocational and skills
training, are being provided through tailored service plans for each victim, in
accordance with the National Standard Operating Procedures for the
Repatriation, Reintegration and Rehabilitation of Victims of Trafficking in
Persons. During court proceedings, victims are provided with travel expenses,
food and rations, medical costs, and follow-up livelihood assistance. In
addition, necessary support, referral services, and follow-up care for victims
are implemented in collaboration with relevant ministries.
18. Relevant ministries are collaborating to ensure the safe return of Myanmar citizens who have entered foreign countries illegally and encountered hardship – whether through the deception of brokers, by their own choice, or due to various other reasons. Efforts are also being made to identify vulnerable groups among migrant workers who are at risk of being trafficked, providing them with direct assistance, repatriation, family reintegration, and rehabilitation services.
19. To ensure effective and successful implementation, harmonious efforts must be made across the four operational pillars of Myanmar’s Fourth Five-Year National Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons (2022-2026), which comprise: 23 action items under the Policy and Cooperation sector, 16 action items under the Prevention sector, 20 action items under the Prosecution sector, and 25 action items under the Protection sector.
20. In a nation’s development, children and youth constitute vital human resources. Under the leadership of the Central Body, relevant ministries must prioritize and implement measures to protect them from human trafficking stemming from online scam operations, as well as related forced labour practices.
21. Therefore, in line with the theme for the 14th Myanmar Anti-Trafficking in Persons Day in 2026, “Trapped behind the scam”, I believe that by remaining Watchful against deceptive offers and traps, verifying information thoroughly to prevent becoming victims of human trafficking, and protecting our families and communities through awareness, we can collectively participate in combating human trafficking and build a safe, secure environment, thereby reducing trafficking in persons in Myanmar.
#TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar
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