A/HRC/29/38 Trafficking in Persons Unit provides specialized training and assistance to member countries to implement the Palermo Protocol and the recommendations stemming from the OAS meetings of national authorities on trafficking in persons. 4. Asia-Pacific region 43. A number of initiatives have been launched to combat trafficking in persons in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution, adopted by the States members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in 2002. In addition, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) launched its first programme, the Asia Regional Cooperation to Prevent People Trafficking Project (2003–2006), which was implemented by the Government of Australia. The Project focused on criminal justice responses to trafficking in partner countries. Following its success, the Project was extended in 2011 as the Asia Regional Trafficking in Persons Project. ASEAN also adopted the ASEAN Declaration Against Trafficking in Persons Particularly Women and Children (2004), followed by the adoption of a work plan to implement the Declaration. An ASEAN convention on trafficking in persons and a regional plan of action are expected to be finalized and adopted in 2015. 44. In the Greater Mekong subregion, the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Human Trafficking, comprising six States (Cambodia, China, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam), has been addressing trafficking issues since 2004 through subregional plans of action, task forces at various levels and other mechanisms. 45. The Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, a consultative mechanism launched in 2002 by ministers of over 50 countries in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, also works on practical anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling measures in the region. 5. Africa 46. The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,18 the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child,19 and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa 20 provide the legal framework for combating trafficking in persons. Additionally, the Migration Policy Framework for Africa (2006) provides the overarching policy of the African Union on migration issues, including human trafficking. The Ouagadougou Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, Especially Women and Children (2006) provides specific recommendations to be implemented by regional economic communities and member States on prevention of trafficking, protection of victims of trafficking and prosecution of those involved in the crime of trafficking. Furthermore, the African Union Horn of Africa Initiative on Human Trafficking and Smuggling (Khartoum Declaration, 2014) focuses on, inter alia, areas such as addressing the social, economic, environmental, cultural, security and political factors that make people vulnerable to human trafficking. 47. Subregional initiatives include the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Declaration on the Fight against Trafficking in Persons (2001) and the 18 19 20 Arts. 2, 5, 15, 18, paras. 3, 60 and 61. Art. 29 in particular. Article 4 (2) (g) prohibits trafficking in children and women and requires States to prosecute the perpetrators of such trafficking and protect those at risk. Other relevant articles are articles 2, 3, 11, 13 and 24. 13