trafficking and human rights makes national institutions especially relevant players in relation to this issue. In some instances, national institutions cooperating together may well be providing important leadership to other key players including police, judicial and immigration authorities which often find it difficult to move from expressions of intent to action. Cooperation between national institutions could be both bilateral and multilateral and could range from information exchange to joint projects aimed at preventing trafficking (by addressing both demand and source factors) and protecting the rights of persons who have been trafficked. • The Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, as the body representing and working for the national institutions of the region, also has an important role to play. In addition to promoting and coordinating cooperation between national institutions on this issue, the APF could decide to contribute, substantively, to the development of international law and policy as it relates to trafficking. The follow-up which this initiative receives will be critical to determining its eventual influence both within and beyond the region. 91