Since 2020, within the framework of the Child Protection Partnership between the Government of Mongolia and the U.S. Department of State, the project "Protecting Children from Human Trafficking" has been implemented with the support of World Vision Mongolia and The Asia Foundation.
Over the past three years, crime prevention staff have provided information to 14,163 travelers at border control points, identified 276 potentially dangerous situations, and persuaded 111 individuals to abandon their trips.
As noted by representatives of the Crime Prevention Coordination Council, the results achieved confirm the effectiveness of the early warning and protection system, which was emphasized at the project report meeting "Protecting Children from Human Trafficking."
At the meeting, representatives of the Government of Mongolia and the U.S. Department of State analyzed the project's outcomes and discussed further coordination and political priorities.
Odmandakh Banzragch, head of the Crime Prevention Coordination Department, emphasized the importance of rapid and coordinated information exchange to strengthen the protection system. Member of the National Human Rights Commission Khunan Jargalsaihan stressed that everyone should be a child protector and highlighted the importance of involving multiple stakeholders.
During the meeting, issues regarding compliance with child entry regulations into Mongolia at border control points were discussed, as well as key problems and opportunities for improving protection practices.
Officials noted that at major checkpoints such as Zamiin-Uud, Altanbulag, and Chinggis Khaan International Airport, monitoring and surveillance had been intensified. They also emphasized the need to improve inter-agency coordination, noting that the identification of potential human trafficking cases and information exchange should be more systematic and timely.
Meeting participants agreed that clarifying institutional responsibilities and implementing a unified operational procedure are key to preventing risks and ensuring timely protection for children.
For more detailed information about social services and support programs provided to children affected by human trafficking under this project, see the video below.
The project "Partnership Agreement on Child Protection: Protecting Children from Human Trafficking" is implemented by World Vision International Mongolia in collaboration with The Asia Foundation. As part of this initiative, a team of researchers from the NGO "Sustainable Development Initiative" conducted an analysis of the state of the child protection system in Mongolia, including the legal environment, service availability, capacity, accountability, cooperation, and child involvement.
Tatar S.Maidar
source: MiddleAsianNews
