UNITAR Jeju International Training Center (JITC), in cooperation with the Regional Support Office of the Bali Process, brought together 25 practitioners from law enforcement, immigration, and civil society in the Asia Pacific region to address the challenges of combating trafficking in persons in Jeju Island on December 12-15, 2023. The primary objective of the Workshop was to share in-depth knowledge on methods for victim identification and protection. Participants from Cambodia, Hong Kong (China), India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mongolia, Palau, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam engaged in discussions and activities centered around the task of identifying and protecting victims of trafficking.

Through lectures and group activities, participants could gain heightened abilities to articulate the intricacies of trafficking victim identification. They also enhanced their nuanced understandings of structural and institutional challenges related to victim identification and protection.

Dr. Borah Park and Dr. Marieke Jasperse shared their expertise on anti-human trafficking efforts, focusing on victim identification and protection. Dr. Park, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Strategy in Korea, discussed common characteristics that help identify victims of trafficking. Dr. Jasperse, a senior advisor in Trafficking in Persons at New Zealand Immigration, highlighted the importance of trauma-informed approaches in trafficking investigations, emphasizing how these methods reveal the hidden nature of trafficking and amplify victims' voices.

A group role-play activity allowed participants to simulate the experiences of victims interacting with law enforcement and immigration officials, helping to develop best practices for trauma-informed, victim-sensitive, child-friendly, gender-sensitive, and culturally appropriate approaches to victim identification. Additionally, mapping exercises deepened participants' understanding of cross-border collaboration challenges and opportunities in combating human trafficking. Each participant presented maps detailing their local human trafficking landscape, highlighting existing support mechanisms within national agencies and collaborations with local and international organizations, thus providing a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted aspects of addressing human trafficking.