On Dec.14th, 2007, IMM2/SOM5 of COMMIT was successfully
concluded in Beijing, which was hosted by the MPS, and co-organized
by the office of National Working Committee for Children and Women
under the State Council, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry
of Commerce. Nearly 200 delegates attended the meeting, including
ministers on anti-trafficking from six countries in the Sub-region
(Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam),
officials from ten embassies of ASEAN residing in China, relevant
international organizations, NGOs, donor countries and related
Chinese ministries on anti-trafficking human.
Chinese government paid high attention to this meeting. The
Minister of MPS, Mr. Meng Jianzhu delivered a key speech at the IMM
opening ceremony, stating that Chinese government and public
security organ of China would continue to strengthen cooperation
against trafficking with the other five Sub-region countries,
further promote the process of coordinated anti-trafficking in GMS,
jointly face to the new challenge. Vice Chairperson of NWCCW of
China, Vice President and First Secretariat of the All-China
Women’s Federation, Mme. Huang Qingyi attended IMM opening ceremony
and delivered speech. The UN Resident Coordinator of China, Mr.
Khalid Malik also addressed a report at this meeting.
The meeting discussed the progress reports on the first SPA and
reviewed the achievements gained since the first Inter-Ministerial
Meeting held in 2004 in Yangon ,Myanmar from the implementation of
the COMMIT Memorandum of Understanding and the first SPA. Country
reports on the progress of the first SPA were reviewed and the
second SPA were discussed and adopted.
The meeting participants believe that the Commit Process has
achieved notable results in recent years with the focused attention
of the six GMM countries and active assistance and support from the
COMMIT Secretariat, relevant international organizations and
Non-Governmental Organizations. The direction of development and
key field of regional cooperation against trafficking are designed
thoroughly in the new Plan of Action. The new Plan of Action also
plays an important role in the promotion of cooperation against
trafficking in six countries.
This morning, all six ministers signed Joint Declaration on the
Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking
together at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. As a document of vital
importance for this meeting, the Joint Declaration reiterates the
spirit of the COMMIT MOU and emphasizes the fulfillment of
commitments, the strengthening of multi-sectors cooperating and the
promotion of international collaboration following the principles
and guidelines of the relevant UN documents signed by the 6 GMS
countries. It reiterates and fully expresses the determination and
confidence of the six governments to promote cooperation and join
hands against trafficking. Its significance is enormous and its
impact is profound. It certainly will exert important influence on
the progress of the COMMIT Process.
Relevant background
Some related organizations of UN headed by the UN Department of
Development Project set up UNIAP in 1998. The Project is attended
by Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The
aim of the Project is to eliminate the crime of trafficking in
persons in GMS, strengthen the cooperation among countries and
regions in order to improve the capacity of anti-trafficking. The
Project has project offices in six countries, the headquarter is
located in Bangkok, Thailand. In October, 2004, the first IMM was
held in Yangon, Myanmar, during which the MOU of COMMIT was
signed.
(China.org.cn December 14, 2007)