The Summit also brought about signing of the ASEAN Convention against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP), to face this scourge more effectively. The first part of the speech of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was centered in the rejection of the recent terrorist attacks. The prime minister also expressed that the perpetrators 'should be confronted with the full force of the law.'
The prime minister also confirmed that “tomorrow the regional bloc will announce the formal establishment of the ASEAN Community, which will be launched on December 31, as a step that will end decades of integration efforts, now reinforced with the momentum of three pillars: politics-security, economy and culture-society.” The Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak insisted on cooperation as a means to find solutions to environmental problems, natural disasters, and migratory crises.
On the signing of the ASEAN Convention against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Razak expressed gratitude to the Summit. The objectives of ACTIP include protecting and assisting victims, with full respect for their human rights and promoting cooperation between the member states of the regional bloc. ASEAN leaders initiated ACTIP at their 18th Summit in Jakarta, 2011.
ACTIP is ASEAN's second convention after the ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism, which was signed in Philippines, 2007. Tomorrow also will be unveiled a Declaration with the future direction for the region during the next 10 years. Malaysia also hosts this weekend the 10th East Asia Summit, in which are participating the members of that group and its partners Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.
sgl/iht/lam/Tjv
PL/MNA