The SEANF MOU is the conclusion of the collaborative efforts of the human rights commissions of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand to develop a document of cooperation that would contribute to the initiatives of government in their respective states, and civil society organizations, to address the crime of trafficking particularly of women and children.

Completed through a series of consultation organized in Manila, and Kuala Lumpur, the MOU outlines two important areas of cooperation, namely Human Rights Education and Legal Aid.

Under Human Rights Education, SEANF members commit to undertake advocacy measures through occasional lectures or dialogue in community engagements with the objective of helping individuals who are at risk of becoming victims of trafficking identify machinations employed by and profile of traffickers.

To provide tangible help to victims, or to their families, the MOU provides for legal aid by way of counseling and referral system.

These activities and programs aim to increase understanding of the role of human rights commissions in the issue of access to rights and responses of government agencies, to help SEANF members themselves in keeping track of or monitoring the performance of these institutions in the implementation of various treaty commitments in human rights conventions.