Leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Saturday signed up to the region's first legal framework to fight people trafficking.[Special coverage]
The ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP) demonstrated the political will and commitment of member states to combat trafficking in the region, said a statement from the leaders after the signing.
The objectives of ACTIP included cooperation among the member states to combat people trafficking, to protect and support the victims and to "ensure just and effective punishment" of traffickers.
Earlier Saturday, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said at the summit opening that leaders needed to "act more as ASEAN within our region" and cited ACTIP as an example of collective action.
ASEAN leaders initiated ACTIP at their 18th summit in Jakarta in 2011, stating it was an issue of urgency.
ACTIP is only ASEAN's second convention after the ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism, which was signed in 2007.
ASEAN foreign ministers endorsed ACTIP at the 13th ASEAN Political-Security Community Council Meeting on Friday.
Founded in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
