NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS OFFERING HELP TO TRAFFICKED VICTIMS (Support)

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NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS OFFERING HELP TO TRAFFICKED VICTIMS:

(Support): 2.

Ms Braema Mathiaparanam asked the Acting Minister for Community

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Development, Youth and Sports what is the nature of the support given to non-governmental organisations that do offer help to trafficked victims.

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon (for the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports): Mr Speaker, Sir, there are very few cases of human trafficking in Singapore . Our strong legal framework and strict enforcement ensure that this number remains low. The small numbers notwithstanding, the Government has in place a comprehensive process to ensure that appropriate assistance is extended to victims of trafficking and victims who are in need of protection. This process involves the Police, the Courts and Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) that offer assistance to persons in need.

The support services provided by VWOs range from providing counselling and translation services, to providing temporary shelter to victims, if necessary. Our VWOs are equipped to provide protection, practical assistance and perhaps, most importantly, emotional support to these victims.

In order to support the work that they do, my Ministry provides funding for the running of these services, as well as the training of the VWO staff providing these services. These funds allow the agencies to run programmes and services not only for victims of trafficking, but also for other victims in need of protection. In the last two years, the Government has provided approximately $435,000 to agencies running victim assistance programmes. Government funding for such agencies has actually increased by 35% from approximately $185,000 in 2002 to approximately $250,000 in 2003.

The agencies are also part of a larger network of VWOs that provide platforms

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for coordination with relevant agencies as well as sharing of knowledge and expertise. We will continue to engage these VWOs to discuss and review the protocol and procedures, so as to ensure that the needs of trafficking victims are met.

Ms Braema Mathiaparanam (Nominated Member): Sir, could I just know which are these VWOs, please?

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon: We have a few, like the Catholic church runs the Good Shepherd Centre and Star Shelter and the Anglican Welfare Organisation runs the St George's Place.