Strengthening the Prevention of and Response to Migrant Smuggling in Malaysia

This project aims to strengthen Malaysia’s ability to prevent and respond to migrant smuggling through a comprehensive approach to reduce security threats to Canadians and affected populations. Project activities include: (1) conducting a gender-sensitive threat assessment on migrant smuggling and irregular migration; (2) providing technical support to strengthen policy strategic and legislative frameworks on migrant smuggling at the national and regional levels; (3) conducting a learning needs assessment with Malaysian law enforcement prosecutors and judges to understand the specific challenges faced; (4) mentoring Malaysian law enforcement on special investigative techniques and police operations; and (5) hosting two migrant smuggling cooperation forums with origin transit and destination countries.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) improved use of evidence-based and gender-sensitive research and knowledge by the Anti-Trafficking and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Council to enhance policy and strategic frameworks to address migrant smuggling; (2) improved use of knowledge and skills among police immigration prosecutors and judges to disrupt investigate migrant smuggling in identified hotspots across Malaysia using gender and human rights-based approaches; and (3) strengthened cross-border coordination and cooperation among police and border officials in selected source transit and destination countries to prevent and address migrant smuggling using gender and human rights-based approaches.