CHAPTER 4 - REPORT OF THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS WORKING GROUP 2. ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS The Commission, as a national human rights institution and a member of the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum, continued its efforts to curb trafficking in persons. Through the ECOSOCWG, it met with the relevant agencies, diplomatic missions and NGOs, and made submissions to the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIP) Malaysia. (a) Second RTD with Agencies and Diplomatic Missions The Commission organised this second RTD on 4 March to move the ATIP agenda forward. Following up on the inaugural session on 4 December 2009,1 the session was aimed at maintaining engagement and cooperation with diplomatic missions to address issues involving Malaysia; to identify current concerns and available mechanisms in Malaysia toward awareness and prevention of trafficking, law enforcement, and protection of victims; and to come up with solutions to problems identified. Participants were from the Council for ATIP, comprising representatives of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, Ministry of Human Resources, Royal Malaysian Police, Immigration Department, Maritime Enforcement Agency, and Royal Malaysian Customs Department. The diplomatic missions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Bangladesh, Switzerland, Indonesia and Singapore sent representatives. Participants were briefed on the Council’s progress and discussed situations that impede effective cooperation between it and the diplomatic missions. (i) Public awareness It is crucial to raise public awareness of the danger of human trafficking, as well as mechanisms available to curb this. Both the countries of origin and destination are responsible for educating citizens to minimise the risk of being trafficked. For instance, citizens should refrain from entering any country illegally as this could increase the risk of being exploited. There is also a need to raise awareness of the difference between trafficking in persons and human smuggling, although human smuggling could turn into trafficking in persons upon exploitation. 1 The first RTD with Agencies and Embassies to Move the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Agenda Forward on 4 December 2009 was attended by all member agencies to the Council for ATIP Malaysia. Also invited to the meeting were representatives of foreign embassies in Malaysia, namely the Embassies of Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Russia, Thailand, United States, Vietnam and Lao PDR. While all member agencies of the Council for ATIP sent representatives to the RTD, only representatives from the embassies of the United States and Indonesia attended the RTD. 63