UN Envoy Urges Thailand To Tackle Human Trafficking

[webfact]

UN envoy urges Thailand to tackle trafficking

BANGKOK, August 19, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand must do more to combat widespread human trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation, including addressing "deeply-rooted" corruption, a UN envoy said on Friday.

"The implementation of policy and legal framework on human trafficking and the law enforcement are weak and fragmented," said the United Nations special rapporteur on people trafficking Joy Ngozi Ezeilo.

At a press conference following her 11 day mission to Thailand, Ezeilo acknowledged that progress had been made, but she underlined the need for wide-ranging improvements, in initial recommendations ahead of a 2012 report.

She said prosecutions of traffickers remain low, contributing to a culture of "impunity" for those who trade in people.

"Corruption, especially among low-cadre law enforcement officers at provincial and local levels, is deeply rooted," she said.

"The government should promote zero tolerance to corruption and complicity of public officials with traffickers, and prosecute and adequately punish offenders to dissuade such practices."

Ezeilo said the underlying causes of trafficking, especially demand for "cheap and exploitative" labour from neighbouring Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, "are not being effectively addressed".

She noted "widespread" sexual exploitation -- including child prostitution, pornography and sex tourism -- as well as new forms of trafficking for domestic labour, begging, forced marriage and surrogacy.

Forced labour is also growing in agriculture and construction and is "notoriously common" in the fishing industry.

Ezeilo called on Thailand to review its labour and migration laws, recognising the demand for cheap, low skilled labour and to provide "safe migration options" for those entering the country from abroad.

The US State Department has placed Thailand on its human trafficking watchlist for two years running, accusing it of not doing enough to combat trafficking.

It said conservative estimates suggest there are tens of thousands of victims sold into modern-day slavery in Thailand from neighbouring countries.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-08-19

[Pib]

Thailand won't get truly serious about stopping human trafficking until economic sanctions are applied and/or the Thai people stage major,.frequent protests against human trafficking--neither of which are going to happen, IMHO. Too many people in Thailand getting rich/making their living in human trafficking.

[ricku]

Thailand will never get truly serious about anything until they do something about their corrupted police and law enforcement.

Just imagine how Thailand would be if the police did their job wholeheartedly, NEVER taking any bribes and never turning their blind eye to crime. Instead putting all their energy into hunting criminals, high and low, 24 / 7, without mercy.

Yeah, that would be a great country

Edited August 19, 2011 by ricku

[Tokay]

Good luck with that. Thailand is one of many countries who's trafficking issues stem from the government all the way down to the local police. They are never going to fix this problem, especially when so many desperate young women will take the risk of traveling abroad for employment.

There is a book called Sex Slaves available here in Thailand. It is filled with disturbing stats from around the world and points out what countries are mostly at fault and how it all works. Japan is actually the largest IMPORTER of trafficked women in the world. Thailand exports them, many other countries are known as transit countries. It's a sad and horrible situation.

[osiboy]

Thailand won't get truly serious about stopping human trafficking until economic sanctions are applied and/or the Thai people stage major,.frequent protests against human trafficking--neither of which are going to happen, IMHO. Too many people in Thailand getting rich/making their living in human trafficking.

agreed 100%, thais will put money before human rights all day,..........for sure , they are greedy and selfish by nature, its in the dna

[ricku]

I agree, but Thailand counts as an ally and close friend to USA. Good luck putting economic sanctions on an US ally.

Not going to happen.

[webfact]

Govt urged to do more to tackle human trafficking

By Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

In her preliminary report, the UN Special Rapporteur urged Thailand to do more to combat human trafficking and protect the rights of migrant workers, pointing out that corruption and disrespect of the law had a negative impact on policies and programmes addressing trafficking problems.

Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons for the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, presented her preliminary findings, conclusions and recommendations at a press conference in the Foreign Ministry yesterday. She went on a mission Chiang Mai, Tak, Samut Sakhon, Songkhla and then Bangkok to collect information from August 8. She met many victims and listened to their stories at two detention centres and six shelters. Ezeilo also spoke to key government agencies about the progress and challenges in their efforts to combat trafficking in the country.

She said Thailand faced a serious problem, as it is a source, transit and destination point of trafficking in persons, which was usually done for sexual and labour exploitation.

"The implementation of policy and the legal framework of human trafficking and law enforcement are weak and fragmented, resulting in a huge gap between de jure and de facto [in law and in practice].

"Corruption, especially among the lowcadre lawenforcement officers at provincial and local levels, is deeply rooted. Corruption, coupled with the infamous brokerage system, has diluted the efficacy of government policies and programmes to combat human trafficking," she said.

Ezeilo added that the rate of prosecution in trafficking cases remained low, which contributed to the impunity of traffickers. Therefore, she said the government should develop zero tolerance to corruption, and start prosecuting and adequately punishing offenders to control such practices.

She said Thailand had good laws and national policies to assist victims, but it should ensure that these are implemented. She also challenged the government to launch more investigations and ensure that the wrongdoers are punished.

Ezeilo also voiced concerns about victims who are not properly identified, leading to wanton arrest, detention and deportation. Also men are usually not seen as victims and do not enjoy the benefits meant for victims. Meanwhile, the 1300 hotline is ineffective in identifying trafficked persons or pointing them in the right direction because most victims do not speak either Thai or English - the only two languages used by the operators.

In the report, Ezeilo urged the government to train officials in all related agencies, especially police, navy, immigration, judges, prosecutors and labour inspectors, to increase their knowledge and skills to identify, protect and assist the victims. The shelters should be a safe haven for them and the Social Development and Human Security Ministry should provide comprehensive and individually tailored assistance to victims.

"There is a regional dimension to trafficking in Thailand and the government cannot tackle this problem alone. Thus, it should cooperate with neighbouring countries, namely Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Burma in preventing and eliminating clandestine movements and trafficking in migrant workers and their families, while at the same time ensuring openings for safe migration," Ezeilo said.

The report of her visit to Thailand will be submitted to UN Human Rights Council in June next year.

-- The Nation 2011-08-20

[tomross46]

The UN sholud look into the country where hundreds of thousands of humans are trafficed every year, and the government does nothing about it. I am talking about the USA. This month we saw that hundreds of Thais that were working as slaves in Hawaii, and that the people responsible for this action were released. What about the Vietnamese in Guam?

What about the easter european girls brought into the States for prostitution?