FBI Report from Thailand: A New Emphasis on Helping Child Victims

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Report from Thailand Part 2: A New Emphasis on Helping Child Victims

 

Members of the Royal Thai Police along with personnel from non-governmental organizations gathered in Thailand last April for FBI training focused on human trafficking, the sexual exploitation of children, and how to better assist victims of these crimes.

 

BANGKOK: -- Generals from the Royal Thai Police—among the highest-ranking officers in the 230,000-member national force—gathered recently in Bangkok for FBI training regarding child victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation. The message they received was simple but powerful: Helping victims is the right thing to do, and it makes it easier to put their abusers behind bars. 

 

Child victims who receive support and assistance from law enforcement are more likely to provide better information to investigators and more willing to make the difficult decision to testify against their attackers in court, increasing the likelihood of successful prosecutions.

 

The Thai police leaders were among more than 100 members of law enforcement and non-governmental organizations who received training from experts with the FBI’s Office for Victim Assistance. The Thai government requested the FBI’s guidance and support to establish its own victim assistance program.

 

“The idea of victim assistance is new to the Royal Thai Police,” said Major Gen. Monthon Ngernwattanam, who participated in the training, “but it’s very helpful. This program will show the international community that we can try our best to fight against human trafficking.”

 

Police Major Gen. Monthon Ngernwattanam talks about why the Royal Thai Police should establish a victim assistance program. He was among dozens of Thai police executives who participated in an FBI training in May in Thailand.

 

For the FBI, a victim-centered approach in crimes against children cases is standard practice. Victim specialists are on hand during investigations to assist young victims in a variety of ways. Trafficked children might only have the clothes on their backs when recovered by law enforcement.

 

They might live on the street and need shelter, or their parents or caregivers might be their abusers. Victims often need referrals for medical or mental health treatment. They also need an advocate for court proceedings. Just as important, they need adults in their lives who are trustworthy. Victim specialists can provide all those things—and that frees investigators to focus on gathering evidence and preparing cases for prosecution.

 

Full report: https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/report-from-thailand-part-2

 

-- FBI 2016-09-21

 

Part 1: FBI Report from Thailand: Confronting the Child Sex Trade in Southeast Asia

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/943456-fbi-report-from-thailand-confronting-the-child-sex-trade-in-southeast-asia/