Sex trafficking in Malaysia is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in Malaysia. Malaysia is a country of origin, destination and transit for sex trafficking.
Sex trafficking victims in the country are from all ethnic groups in Malaysia and foreigners. Children, [1] [2] people in rural areas and or poverty, minorities, [3] migrants, and refugees [4] [5] are vulnerable. Malaysian citizens, primarily women and girls, [6] have been sex trafficked into other countries in Asia and different continents. [7] Many are forced into prostitution and or marriage [2] [8] and unfree labour. [9] Victims are threatened and experience physically and psychologically abuse. [3] They contract sexually transmitted diseases from rapes. Some are coerced to be in online pornographic films. The perpetrators are often part of or collude with criminal syndicates. [10] They increasing use the internet to deceive victims. [3] [7]
The government of Malaysia has been criticized for its response to sex trafficking. Corruption and impunity are pervasive. Officials and police have been complicit in trafficking. [9] [5] [11] Law enforcement have also failed to recognize victims and other indications of trafficking, and have treated cases as immigration violations. [5] Though some anti-trafficking efforts, such as public service announcements, [5] are carried out, progress has been limited by poor border management, [10] weak victim protections, [5] inadequate law enforcement practices, low convictions, [12] and other factors. [9]
Sex trafficking in Malaysia is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in Malaysia. Malaysia is a country of origin, destination and transit for sex trafficking.
Sex trafficking victims in the country are from all ethnic groups in Malaysia and foreigners. Children, [1] [2] people in rural areas and or poverty, minorities, [3] migrants, and refugees [4] [5] are vulnerable. Malaysian citizens, primarily women and girls, [6] have been sex trafficked into other countries in Asia and different continents. [7] Many are forced into prostitution and or marriage [2] [8] and unfree labour. [9] Victims are threatened and experience physically and psychologically abuse. [3] They contract sexually transmitted diseases from rapes. Some are coerced to be in online pornographic films. The perpetrators are often part of or collude with criminal syndicates. [10] They increasing use the internet to deceive victims. [3] [7]
The government of Malaysia has been criticized for its response to sex trafficking. Corruption and impunity are pervasive. Officials and police have been complicit in trafficking. [9] [5] [11] Law enforcement have also failed to recognize victims and other indications of trafficking, and have treated cases as immigration violations. [5] Though some anti-trafficking efforts, such as public service announcements, [5] are carried out, progress has been limited by poor border management, [10] weak victim protections, [5] inadequate law enforcement practices, low convictions, [12] and other factors. [9]