Over 70% of human trafficking victims smuggled into China

Over 70% of human trafficking victims smuggled into China
Published 14 September 2019
Thiha Aung

 

More than 70 percent of human trafficking victims were smuggled into China, said Yangon Region Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein at the celebration of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Day. 

Yangon observed the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Day at the Drug Elimination Museum on September 13 with the presence of the chief minister and Yangon Region Parliament speaker. 

"In all human trafficking cases, 79.61 percent of victims were trafficked into China, 1.46 percent into Thailand and 18.93 percent inside the country (Myanmar). Most were smuggled into China. Yangon Region saw 62 human trafficking cases with 14 males and 61 females totalling 75 from September 2018 to date. We could expose and took action against 176 traffickers—53 men and 123 women," said the chief minister. 

He said human trafficking is a human rights violations adding that countries with less economic development bear the brunt. He blamed human trafficking  issue in Myanmar on economic problems, natural disasters and internal armed conflicts. 

There were 27 human trafficking cases across the country in August this year. In 21 of those cases, Myanmar women were sold into forced marriage in China, according to Myanmar Anti-Human Trafficking Police. In the 27 cases that happened in August, 46 people became victims and 72 offenders were arrested.