A/HRC/56/60 irregular migrants in the Bay of Bengal. 10 The Special Rapporteur highlights significant changes of practice in relation to disembarkation in Indonesia, in line with Presidential Regulation No. 125 of 2016. Notably, search and rescue missions were carried out on various occasions for vessels in distress and six boats with 809 Rohingya refugees were allowed to safely disembark (between January and August 2023) in Indonesia. In addition, the Special Rapporteur notes that it is reported that protection-sensitive anti-trafficking screenings were conducted in the designated reception centres.11 10. Joint communications were issued in relation to the disappearance of 58 Venezuelan migrants who were on board two boats bound for Trinidad and Tobago. The special procedure mandate holders expressed alarm at the smuggling and trafficking in persons from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the existence of consolidated human trafficking networks for labour and sexual exploitation in the region, which could amount, under certain circumstances, to forced labour and sexual slavery. Further concern was expressed at the criminalization of irregular migration, which resulted in persons in vulnerable situations taking dangerous migration routes and therefore exposed them to the risk of being trafficked. 12 In a communication to the Kingdom of the Netherlands,13 allegations were forwarded in relation to the disappearance of 15 Venezuelan migrants who had boarded a boat headed to Curaçao and the continued existence of consolidated trafficking routes and networks operating between the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Curaçao.14 A related communication15 was issued to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela concerning the disappearance of 73 migrants, including possible victims of trafficking, following their departure from the country on boats travelling to Curacao and Trinidad and Tobago. 11. In the report on her visit to Bangladesh, the Special Rapporteur highlighted the key role of the Coast Guard of Bangladesh in identification and assistance of victims of trafficking at sea.16 A memorandum of understanding between the Coast Guard of India and the Coast Guard of Bangladesh provides for cooperation in search and rescue operations in relation, inter alia, to trafficking in persons, with the objective of ensuring both the safety of lives and “good governance” at sea. The Special Rapporteur expressed grave concern at the high number of people rescued at sea, who may be victims of trafficking, and the tragic loss of many lives at sea. She stressed the importance of referral pathways to ensure that victims of trafficking or persons at risk of trafficking were referred for assistance and protection, and not detained or punished on disembarkation, following search and rescue operations. In her report, the Special Rapporteur also expressed concern at the increasing numbers of people, mostly Rohingya, taking perilous journeys on the Andaman Sea. 17 According to data from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 3,500 Rohingya attempted the deadly sea crossings in boats across the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal in 2022, representing a 360 per cent increase compared with 2021. The Special Rapporteur highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive regional response and shared responsibility on the part of the international community. During her visit to Cox’s Bazar, the Special Rapporteur heard accounts of victims of trafficking being rescued at sea, including child victims, who were subsequently brought to police stations and detained for several days, with no psychosocial, medical or legal assistance provided. She heard accounts directly from child victims, Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, who were rescued at sea while travelling to Malaysia, having been recruited for purposes of child marriage. The testimonies given included accounts of child victims of trafficking being detained in police stations alongside adults, without protection or assistance, following deeply traumatic experiences at 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 4 Communications IDN 5/2015 and THA 3/2015. UNHCR Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific, “Rohingya refugees fleeing over land and sea – quarterly update as of 31 August 2023”, p. 4. Communication TTO 1/2020, p. 3. Communication NLD 2/2020. Ibid., p. 2. Communication VEN 8/2020 (in Spanish). A/HRC/53/28/Add.1, para. 37. Ibid., para. 59. GE.24-06692