What steps did the Government of Laos take to improve its anti-trafficking efforts?
Since the release of the 2006 Report, the Government of Laos has provided previously unreported data on anti-trafficking law enforcement actions taken in 2005 and 2006 indicating that at least 12 suspected traffickers were arrested by police in 2006; five of these 12 have since been prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to an average of 6.5 years imprisonment. Additionally, the Lao Government’s police anti-trafficking unit is investigating the possible involvement of local enforcement officials in a particular town in trafficking for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. In response to concerns over reports that local officials continue to punish Lao trafficking victims returning from Thailand, the government in July initiated a training campaign to educate immigration officers along Laos’ border with Thailand on the Prime Minister’s December 2005 order abolishing all fines against undocumented persons returning to Laos from neighboring countries, including victims of traffickin
