provide a significant input for law reform in the trafficking sector, as well as for law enforcement. • The development of research projects can provide a sound basis for policy recommendations by the National Human Rights Institutions in the region to their respective governments. • The Council notes that research and policy initiatives should include consideration of the wider social and economic measures necessary to deal with the root causes of trafficking. Such measures should enhance the rights of women and children and attack the causes of economic disparity both within and between States as well as address the demand for the products of trafficking. 6. EDUCATION • Education can provide a crucial role for any measures to be taken for combating trafficking in all its forms. • Education and training programmes for border control officials, law enforcement personnel, labour inspectors, the judiciary, and all other relevant government officials in relation to each element involved in the trafficking issue should be devised – for example education in the identification of forced labour and sexual exploitation. • Education programmes should involve educating the community about trafficking, its causes and consequences as well as potential victims and vulnerable groups. • In addition to national programmes for education and training, each State should work together and with the APF and relevant NGOs and international agencies to develop regional programmes. 7. CO-OPERATION • The global nature of trafficking requires cooperation by States on a bi-lateral and multi-lateral basis. The in-depth pilot study currently undertaken by India and Nepal furnishes an excellent example of regional co-operation in obtaining greater understanding of the causes and consequences of trafficking and its prevention. • The Council believes that the APF can play a major role in facilitating cooperative measures. One initiative that would be very useful is for National Human Rights Institutions to share information and research data among themselves and with NGOs and international and national agencies on “best practice” in the region. 8