Anti-human trafficking efforts are still being rigorously pursued by the relevant agencies in Thailand. Calls are being made for a focus on quality tourism and severe enforcement of laws against human traffickers, with an aim of enabling Thailand to be upgraded to Tier 2 in the Trafficking in Persons Report.
Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon has chaired meetings of the government committee on the prevention and suppression of human trafficking and the coordination committee on human trafficking, both of which were held at Government House.
The meeting of the former committee acknowledged the progress made in establishing a sorting center for human trafficking victims in Don Mueang, per the recommendations in the United States’ Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. The meeting also endorsed a draft report on Thailand’s human trafficking prevention and suppression operations in the year 2021. Additional individuals were appointed by the meeting to take charge of proactive tourism-related measures for the protection of children from human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The objective of the appointment was to do away with Thailand’s sex tourism image and propel the Thai tourism sector toward global standards and a focus on quality.
In the second meeting, the coordination committee on human trafficking acknowledged the updated statistics related to human trafficking and expressed its intent to use the new figures to augment the prevention and suppression of human trafficking. It also acknowledged the use of online channels by traffickers who lured Thais into illegal labor work and prostitution in destination countries. The committee will work to raise awareness among the Thai public to prevent people from falling victim to human trafficking or engaging in illegal acts.
The meetings acknowledged the progress made by Thailand in addressing the 15 prioritized recommendations within the TIP report, especially in lifting its standard operating procedure (SOP) on classifying victims and determining assistance for them. According to Gen. Thammasak Witcharaya, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister, progress on this front was well-received and will have a clear effect on Thailand’s tier placement in the 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report.
Gen. Prawit also urged all relevant parties to bring about concrete results in the fight against human trafficking and to enforce the law stringently, in order to allow Thailand to move up to Tier 2 in next year’s TIP report. (NNT)
 |
 |
 |
