Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today signed the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP)

Najib who is also the ASEAN chairman began the signing followed by the other nine ASEAN leaders who were present at the summit today.

The ceremony was to emphasise on the need for victims, mostly women and children to have a fundamental right to be protected in line with international law and relevant international conventions.

ACTIP established a legal framework for the region to effectively tackle the issue of trafficking in persons while demonstrating the political will and commitment of ASEAN member states in giving protection to victims while curtailing trafficking in the region.

The objectives outlined for ACTIP include prevent and combat trafficking in persons, especially women and children and to ensure just and effective punishment of traffickers.

ACTIP also aims to protect and assist victims of trafficking in persons with full respect for their human rights and to promote cooperation among the relevant parties in order to meet these objectives.

ACTIP was the second convention for ASEAN after the ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism which was signed by ASEAN leaders in Cebu, Philippines on January 13, 2007.