IJM awarded Certificate of Appreciation by Malaysia’s Home Affairs Minister

August 2024

Last month, Malaysia’s Home Affairs Minister presented certificates of appreciation to IJM and other organisations that have partnered with the government to stop human trafficking.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from various key government agencies involved in combating trafficking, senior officers from law enforcement agencies, and non-governmental organizations, civil societies and foreign diplomatic missions.

Ji Lien Ooi, IJM Malaysia’s Field Office Director who received the certificate, said that partnerships and cooperation with these stakeholders are essential.

Ji Lien also highlighted the need to include survivor voices in informing the country’s anti-trafficking policies:

“We will never be able to understand the full scope of what is needed without the expertise of those affected by systemic inequality.

“Therefore, fostering an inclusive environment that allows for representation of survivors and diversity of experience, thought and collaborations at all levels do matter and will accelerate our efforts to build a safer community,” Ji Lien added.

In June 2024, Malaysia was upgraded to Tier 2 of the 2024 US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which is published annually by the U.S. State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

This is the highest rank Malaysia has achieved since 2017. The achievements of the past year reflect a turning point in the country’s fight against human trafficking.

“The TIP report with its analysis and recommendations provided a platform for us to reflect on the lessons learned from practitioners, and offers considerations to build momentum through coordinated anti-trafficking strategies,” Ji Lien said.