Combating Human Trafficking

• Date： 2024-07-23
• Source：Anti-Human Trafficking Section
• Hit：9041
• Updated date：2025-12-10

Introduction
The “4 Ps” paradigm—Prosecution, Protection, Prevention, and Partnership—is the fundamental framework adopted by the R.O.C. (Taiwan) to combat human trafficking. It encompasses crime prevention, strengthening victim protection, improving prosecution efforts, collaborating with the private sector to enhance governmental capacity, and reinforcing international cooperation. This comprehensive response has enabled the R.O.C. (Taiwan) to remain recognized as a Tier 1 country in the United States' Annual Trafficking in Persons Report for the 16th consecutive year, as of September 29, 2025.

Human trafficking is internationally recognized as a heinous and serious violation of human rights. In addition that many Taiwanese citizens were deceived into traveling abroad and subsequently confined and forced to engage in criminal activities in 2022, revealing a clear need to increase penalties. Therefore, the NIA referred to the relevant regulations stipulated in the “United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children” and “Directive 2011/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA” to conduct a comprehensive revision to the “Human trafficking Prevention Act.” The amended Act took effect on January 1, 2024, to strengthen the protection of trafficking victims’ rights in Taiwan.

Policies and Achievements
1. Policy
(1) The Executive Yuan (EY) announced the Human Trafficking Prevention Action Plan in November 2006, and established an Executive Yuan board to coordinate anti-trafficking efforts in February 2007. This board was renamed the "Executive Yuan Coordination Committee on Prevention of Human Trafficking and Elimination of Racial Discrimination"(hereinafter referred to as “the Coordination Committee”) on May 8, 2020, with the National Immigration Agency (NIA) serving as the coordination secretariat.

(2)The 2023 amendment to the “Human trafficking Prevention Act” represents the most significant revision in 14 years since the Act came into effect on June 1, 2009. Key changes include provisions addressing emerging forms of trafficking, such as coercing victims to commit crimes, and the imposition of harsher penalties, including life imprisonment for committing organ harvesting results in the victims’ death. In addition, employers use means such as withholding important identification documents to compel workers to continue working in poor working environment may now be sentenced to up to 3 years in prison. All these new measures aim to deter and severely punish human trafficking crimes.The amendment to the “Human trafficking Prevention Act” took effect on January 1, 2024, and the five regulatory orders authorized by the amendment came into force simultaneously, including “Regulations for the Assistance of Victims or Suspected Victims of Human Trafficking,” “Regulations Governing the Placement and Service of Victims and Suspected Victims of Human Trafficking,” “Regulations Governing Subsidy for Victims of Human Trafficking,” “Regulations Governing the Residency, and the ad hoc Permanent Residency for Human Trafficking Victims,” and “Enforcement Rules of the Human Trafficking Prevention Act”. These regulatory statutes play a significant role in advancing efforts to prevent human trafficking and protect victims.

(3)Regarding the protection of the rights of fishers concerned by both foreign and domestic NGOs, the EY approved the Action Plan on Human Rights and Fishery Industry on May 20, 2022. The action plan is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ocean Affairs Council, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Justice, with the aim to promote human rights and labor rights in the fishery industry, enhancing our national image and to achieve sustainable industry development. The action plan was revised and reapproved in July 2023, with total project funding increased to NT$1,030,167,000.

2. Progress
In order to strengthen the efforts of central government agencies in preventing human trafficking and to continuously integrate and coordinate the ministerial resources and capabilities to ensure the protection of human rights, the 2025-2026 Anti-Exploitation Action Plan was promulgated in March 2025. The plan consists of 24 unresolved issues related to human trafficking as well as 120 corresponding specific measures. At the same time, the EY instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to introduce the Action Plan on Human Rights and Fishery Industry, which incorporates the Cooperative Mechanism for Strengthening Combat against Human Trafficking at Sea drafted by the Ministry of the Interior. The NIA remains committed to combating human trafficking and will continue these efforts in the years ahead.

3. Achievements
(1) Strengthening the prosecution of TIP perpetrators:
Law enforcement agencies shall coordinate to crack down on human trafficking crimes, enhance inter-agency communication and utilize available resources properly. In addition, law enforcement agencies shall intensify the investigation of illegal intermediaries, as well as monitor potential or suspicious locations, including places where migrants often visit or gather and adult entertainment venues. For further information on the implementation, please refer to the NIA website (URL: https://www.immigration.gov.tw/5385/7445/7535/7615/).

(2) Enhancing the protection of victims
The NIA, the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and local governments provide "institutional" or "community-based" resettlement services, either independently or in collaboration with civil society organizations. During the victims’ resettlement period, victims are provided with services including daily care, psychological counseling, interpretation, legal assistance, accompaniment during interrogations, and necessary medical assistance. For further information on the implementation, please refer to the NIA website (URL:https://www.immigration.gov.tw/5385/7445/7535/7615/).

(3)Expanding awareness-raising and training on human trafficking and prevention
a. Disseminate the concept of anti-human trafficking through multiple channels: In order to raise nationals' awareness of human trafficking and enhance foreigners' understanding of their rights, the NIA has taken several initiatives to prevent human trafficking. In support of the significant amendments to the "Human Trafficking Prevention Act" in 2023, the NIA established a dedicated section titled "Amendments to the Human Trafficking Prevention Act" on the NIA's official website and produced promotional materials, including a video titled "Evil Begets Evil" and a variety of anti-human trafficking posters and informational cards. In addition, the NIA developed promotional materials aimed at raising awareness of human trafficking, which were distributed to its subordinate units, other relevant authorities and NGOs for public outreach. For example, to prevent nationals and migrant workers from falling victim to human trafficking, the NIA produced trilingual (Chinese, English, and Indonesian) informational cards targeting nationals seeking employment abroad and migrant workers departing from Taiwan to third countries for work in 2025. These materials are distributed at international airport entry and exit areas and are also available on the NIA’s website under the “Human Trafficking Prevention” section for public reference and use.

b. Training: To enhance public sector personnel’s understanding of anti-human trafficking, relevant departments are required to incorporate anti-human trafficking courses into their professional trainings. For example, the NIA provides at least one seminar annually, open to both public and private sectors. In 2024, three training sessions were held, with a total of 258 attendees. As of the end of September 2025, a total of three training sessions had been conducted, including one Advanced Anti-Human Trafficking Network Training and two Seed Instructor Training sessions, with a total of 156 attendees.

(4)Strengthening international cooperation.
a.The 2025 International Conference on Strategies for Combating Human Trafficking took place from August 27 to 28, 2025. The NIA invited official representatives and experts from 12 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, New Zealand, South Korea, the Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia, as well as foreign missions in Taiwan, government representatives at all levels, and civil society organizations to participate in the conference. More than 400 participants joined both in person and online. The foreign representatives, government officials and NGO staff were invited to take part in discussions on the topics of “Trends and Challenges of Human Trafficking Globally and in Asia,” “Methods to Prevent Trafficking Networks and Structures for Vulnerable Communities under Labor Exploitation,” “Human Trafficking Victim Protection and Advocacy,” as well as “Using Innovative Technology Tools to Prevent Human Trafficking.” This conference facilitated international collaboration and contributed to enhancing each country's efforts in combating human trafficking.

b. From 2011 to December 2024, R.O.C. (Taiwan) has signed Agreements or Memorandum of Understanding with 22 countries, focusing on cooperation in immigration affairs and human trafficking prevention.

c. The NIA has actively engaged with its international partners through a series of visiting activities and seminars, reinforcing its commitment to collaborative efforts within the international community.

Conclusion
(1) On the basis of the amended “Human Trafficking Prevention Act” and its related regulations, which came into effect on January 1, 2024, the government aims not only to effectively combat human trafficking but also to strengthen the protection of victims’ rights. Accordingly, the government provides more comprehensive care services to victims, helping them return to normal life as quickly as possible and face the future with positivity.

(2) Combating human trafficking requires collaboration among the private sector, civil society partners, and government agencies. The government of Taiwan remains committed to bolstering its efforts to combat human trafficking, in order to embody the principle of human rights-based governance in Taiwan and maintains its international reputation.

(3)To promote public understanding of the amendments to the “Human Trafficking Prevention Act,” the NIA has established an “Amendments to the Human Trafficking Prevention Act” section under the "Preventing Human Trafficking" pathway on the official website for public reference (URL: https://www.immigration.gov.tw/5385/7445/7535/356458/).