BANGKOK, June 28 – Thailand will regularly report to the United States on the progress of its efforts to solve human trafficking in an attempt to be removed from Tier 2 Watch List, according to a senior foreign ministry official.
Sek Wannamethee, director general of the America and South Pacific Department, said the US recently released its Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report which placed Thailand on the Tier 2 Watch List for the fourth consecutive year.
The US granted Thailand a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because the government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts to meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.
Mr Sek said he has discussed with related agencies including the Courts of Justice on the possibility of speeding up trials of human trafficking cases.
Thailand will update the TIP on development of the country’s trafficking solutions in November this year and January next year while a TIP delegation will visit the kingdom in August – an opportunity for Thailand to thoroughly explain the issue.
“We hope that Thailand will be lifted from the unfavourable list next year,” Mr Sek said.
