KUALA LUMPUR – As cybercrime surges across Southeast Asia, experts are warning that a surge in human trafficking requires a shift in how anti-trafficking practitioners and governments in Asia are tackling the issue.

Human trafficking is no longer confined to hidden brothels or isolated labour camps.

The United Nations estimates that at least 50 million people remain trapped in situations of modern slavery worldwide, with a significant proportion of victims originating from Asia and the Pacific.

Malaysia remains both a destination and transit point for trafficking, facing ongoing challenges linked to migrant worker exploitation, forced labour risks and trafficking-related criminal networks operating throughout the region.

Against this backdrop, the Asia Freedom Network (AFN) will host the MHAT Global Conference in Kuala Lumpur from 30 November to 3 December 2026, bringing together practitioners, researchers, mental health professionals, survivor leaders and anti-trafficking organisations to address one of the most overlooked dimensions of the trafficking response: trauma and mental health.

MHAT, which stands for Mental Health in Anti-Trafficking, is the world’s first international conference dedicated to advancing trauma-informed care and mental health support across anti-trafficking, human rights and vulnerable population sectors.

Alongside the in-person conference in Malaysia, dedicated online programmes will run simultaneously across Oceania, Europe, Africa and the Americas, creating a near 24-hour programme spanning multiple time zones and placing Malaysia at the centre of a worldwide conversation on trafficking, trauma and recovery.

The conference is being delivered in partnership with MIASA Malaysia, bringing Malaysian expertise in mental health to a global audience.

The programme will feature keynote presentations from leading Malaysian voices, including Puan Anita Abu Bakar and Dato’ Shyamala Alagendra, international criminal lawyer and barrister, alongside international experts, survivor leaders and frontline practitioners from around the world.

Recognising the critical role of media and criminal justice systems in combating trafficking, MHAT will also feature dedicated masterclasses for journalists and law enforcement professionals.

These specialised sessions are designed not only to strengthen reporting, investigation and victim-centred approaches, but also to invite journalists into the conversation as participants and learners, rather than simply observers of the issue.

Conference themes include:

• Trauma-informed survivor care and recovery
• Mental health and resilience for survivors
• Vicarious trauma and burnout among frontline workers
• Survivor leadership and lived-experience approaches
• Emerging trafficking trends, including scam compounds and forced criminality
• Cross-border collaboration and systems change

AFN supports hundreds of member organisations across Asia and is committed to strengthening collaboration, survivor inclusion and collective action against modern slavery and human trafficking.

Registration for MHAT Global Conference 2026 is now open, and Malaysians will receive a special Malaysian rate. Please contact us at team@asiafreedomnetwork.org for more details.

For more information and registration, visit MHAT Global Conference | Asia Freedom Network.

Media enquiries:
Asia Freedom Network
team@asiafreedomnetwork.org