IOM is today hosting a two-day international conference in the
South Korean capital, Seoul, for over 50 government officials and
civil society representatives on direct assistance for victims of
human trafficking.

The event marks the launch of the Korean version of IOM's
Handbook on Direct Assistance for Victims of Trafficking, funded by
the US State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and
Migration (PRM).

South Korea is a source, transit, and destination country for
trafficking in persons for commercial sexual exploitation and
forced labour, according to the US government's annual Global
Trafficking in Persons (GTIP) Report.

A member of the Korean National Assembly, Choon-jin Kim, who has
submitted a draft bill that would prosecute human traffickers and
protect their victims, warmly welcomes the Korean version of the
handbook.

"It is highly timely and offers valuable suggestions and
practical guidance on various aspects of the victim assistance from
identification of victims to their safe return and reintegration,"
he says.

"Despite limited legal recognition and government involvement,
many organizations and individuals in Korea are making an effort to
assist victims of trafficking. The handbook and the conference will
help to establish a systematic and comprehensive framework for
direct assistance," says IOM Seoul Chief of Mission June Lee.

For more information please contact:

June Lee

IOM Seoul

Tel: +82-2-2183-0191

E-mail: "mailto:jlee@iom.int">jlee@iom.int