BANGKOK, July 20 (TNA) – The United States moved Thailand from Tier 2 Watch List last year to Tier 2 in its 2022 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, reflecting Thai government and private sectors’ serious efforts to tackle human trafficking over the past year.
Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the US Department of State released the report on July 19 and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha acknowledged it.
The TIP Report 2022 stated that the Thai government demonstrated its increasing efforts to tackle human trafficking and they included the completion of the National Referral Mechanism, the establishment of new centers to help victims of human trafficking and the introduction of guidelines on the referral of the victims to relevant professionals for labor officials to follow.
Every year, the Department of State recognizes individuals who have devoted their lives to the fight against trafficking-in-persons (TIP). This year, Apinya Tajit from Thailand was given the TIP Report Hero Award for combating human trafficking crimes in Thailand for the past 7 years and for her tireless commitment to assisting exploited workers in the fishing sector.
She advocates for workers exploited in forced labor across SE Asia, particularly in the fishing & seafaring industries, assisting survivors with reintegration into society, and sharing her expertise with government officials and anti-trafficking authorities. (TNA)
