National Legislative Assembly Passes Stricter Human Trafficking Act

NLA passes stricter Human Trafficking Act

The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has passed a new act against Human Trafficking that will lay out harsher punishments and categorical reprisals for different social groups.

The act details that individuals in positions of power, such as in government office will face twice the punishment civilians would face. Officials who work directly in government organizations dealing with human trafficking and found engaging in the illegal act will be faced three times the standard penalty. The three fold rule will apply to officials in the Ministry of Labor and Human Resources as well.

A new provision of the act will seek to deter the practice of rural families effectively selling their children for future trafficking or allowing adoption outside of official channels.

The final provision of the act will hold media outlets responsible for the privacy of victims of human trafficking with fines of up to 60,000 baht for media outlets that display pictures or personal details of victims.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 29 November 2007