United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

This paper discusses trafficking of women in the Asia Pacific and the potential of CEDAW to reduce trafficking and violence against women in the region. The paper begins with a discussion on the conceptual understanding of trafficking and outlines trafficking patterns in the Asia Pacific. It then examines various facets of trafficking, including human rights, gender, forced labour, migration and poverty. The last section of the paper focuses on CEDAW and the legal obligations of ratified parties to protect women's human rights.

This Resource Guide presents a comprehensive breakdown of international and legal instruments that address trafficking in human beings. It groups and discusses law, instruments, policies, procedures and practices by various topics: legality, law enforcement, human rights, slavery and slavery-like practices, trafficking, migration, labour, gender and children's rights. The Guide provides details of the history, background, purpose and party obligations of these instruments.