With a strong economy and ageing population, Thailand is highly dependent on migrant workers from other countries in the ASEAN region. In this context, Thailand is striving to ensure that its industries are free of trafficking for labour exploitation.
With a strong economy and ageing population, Thailand is highly dependent on migrant workers from other countries in the ASEAN region. In this context, Thailand is striving to ensure that its industries are free of trafficking for labour exploitation.
In addition to existing challenges, new trafficking trends across Southeast Asia are impacting Thai citizens and challenging traditional dynamics between countries of origin and countries of destination. This includes the emergence of trafficking of persons for involvement in scamming operations, often established in the sites of casinos and special economic zones across the region.
Thailand has a strong legislative framework to counter trafficking in persons and related crimes. However, challenges remain in interpreting and applying these laws and working across disciplines, including with NGOs, to pursue strong cases and provide substantive outcomes for victims.
To address these challenges, the Royal Government of Thailand is partnering with the Australian Government to establish a new Counter Trafficking in Persons Centre of Excellence — the first training facility in the ASEAN region with a dedicated focus on countering trafficking in persons.
With a strong economy and ageing population, Thailand is highly dependent on migrant workers from other countries in the ASEAN region. In this context, Thailand is striving to ensure that its industries are free of trafficking for labour exploitation.
In addition to existing challenges, new trafficking trends across Southeast Asia are impacting Thai citizens and challenging traditional dynamics between countries of origin and countries of destination. This includes the emergence of trafficking of persons for involvement in scamming operations, often established in the sites of casinos and special economic zones across the region.
On 17 May 2024, Thailand’s Minister of Justice Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong and Australia’s Ambassador to Thailand Dr Angela Macdonald PSM, officially launched the Counter Trafficking in Persons Centre of Excellence (CTIP COE) at the DSI Academy in the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand.
During the opening ceremony a new counter trafficking curriculum was unveiled, which was developed with support from Australia through ASEAN-ACT and with contribution from the Mekong Australia Partnership – Transnational Crime (MAP-TNC).
The CTIP COE is Southeast Asia’s first dedicated training facility which aims to build and sustain a cadre of professionals equipped to respond to all forms of trafficking in persons, including trafficking for labour, sex, forced marriage and forced criminality.
The CTIP-COE will make a substantial contribution to the implementation of the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP).
Through the CTIP COE, Thailand also aims to become a leader in combatting trafficking in persons by developing a regional hub for the exchange of knowledge and professional expertise. It also has the potential to be a model for the rest of the ASEAN region.
555 Inaugural Joint Steering Committee meeting endorsed the scoping study findings and steps to progressively establish the CTIP COE.
555 Consortium of international and Thai experts commissioned to design and develop the CTIP COE curriculum.
Thailand endorsed the operational structure for CTIP COE. Australia and Thailand appointed members for the Joint Steering Committee.
Options for CTIP COE development presented to National Program Steering Commitee: Joint Steering Commitee and Joint Executive Committee (Thailand) established.
MOU signed between Thailand and Australia in November 2022.
Site visit to the Office of the Central Investigation Bureau. Scoping study inception report presented to Thailand's subcommittee on counter-trafficking in persons capacity enhancement.
Scoping discussion between Royal Thai Government and the Australian Embassy Thailand. The Memorandum of Understanding was drafted in April 2022.
Over the past two years, Thailand and Australia has worked steadily to progress the establishment of the CTIP COE, starting with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding to formalise commitment from both countries. This was followed by a scoping study, supported by ASEAN-ACT, which assessed the adequacy of training provided to counter trafficking actors at both national and sub-national levels
The study recommended options for the development of the CTIP COE over the next five years, commencing with the design, piloting and rollout of a comprehensive curriculum for training government and non-government actors with a role in countering trafficking in persons.
The new curriculum offers a fundamental course on the key competencies required to counter trafficking in persons, including applying victim-centred and gender-sensitive approaches during all stages – from identifying a potential victim of trafficking to supporting their return and reintegration.
The second course, for more advanced practitioners, has been developed for multi-disciplinary teams to problem solve and corroborate information to investigate and prosecute criminal supply chains in the context of trafficking in persons, while also protecting victims and supporting them to access justice.
Following the piloting of both courses with a range of Thai government agencies and selected NGOs, the learning materials will be finalised and rolled out across Thailand and potentially the region.
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