among countries of origin, transit and destination in order to be eradicated. A major step taken by the international community aimed at responding to this modern day slavery is the adoption of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, in 200025) , which came into force 25th December, 2003. As at today 137 countries are State Parties to it. The TIP Protocol requires ratifying State Parties to take effective and comprehensive action to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, especially women and children, protect and assist the victims as well as prosecute and punish traffickers. The purposes of the Protocol as stated in article 2 are threefold namely: (a) To prevent and combat trafficking in persons, paying particular attention to women and children; (b) To protect and assist the victims of such trafficking, with full respect for their human rights; and (c) To promote cooperation among States Parties in order to meet those objectives. Article 3 comprehensively defines trafficking while article 4 deals with the scope of application of the Protocol. Further, article 5 criminalizes the offence of trafficking and places obligations on each State Party to adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences the conduct set forth in article 3 of this Protocol, when committed intentionally. Article 6 deals with assistance and protection to victims of trafficking (VOTs), which includes protection of privacy and identity of victims, undertaking measures to ensure the physical, psychological and social recovery of victims of trafficking in persons, including, in appropriate cases, in cooperation with non‐governmental organizations, other relevant organizations and other elements of civil society, and, in particular, the provision of: (a) Appropriate housing; (b) Counselling and information, in particular as regards their legal rights, in a language that the victims of trafficking in persons can understand; (c) Medical, psychological and material assistance; and (d) Employment, educational and training opportunities amongst others. Furthermore, State Parties were required to take into account, in applying the provisions of this article, the age, gender and special needs of victims of trafficking in persons, in particular the special needs of children, including appropriate housing, education and care.26) 25) Adopted by G.A. Res. 25, (A/Res/55/25 of 15 November 2000); annex II, U.N. GAOR, 55th Sess., Supp. No. 49, at 60, U.N. Doc. A/45/49 (Vol. I) (2001), entered into force December 25, 2003. 12 ❙ Seoul International Conference Against Human Trafficking in Migrant Women