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Case Study
Training encourages
agencies to fight
trafficking cooperatively
Teaming Up Against Traffickers
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Photo: USAID/Suzanne Ross
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Human trafficking targets poor,
vulnerable populations.
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Challenge
At USAID’s office in Bangkok, Thailand, these
scenarios are only the beginning of the story. The prosecution
of traffickers can be put in jeopardy by the country’s limited
capacity to support victims as they wait for their cases to go to
trial. There is also a lack of trust among victims and a lack of
coordination among social workers, police, border control and
the judiciary. Victims are often too traumatized to testify, and
just as often, police and prosecutors criminalize the victims,
particularly prostitutes, illegal aliens and vulnerable children.
Initiative
In response to these challenges, USAID is supporting the
Chiang Mai Model, a five-year activity that brings together law
enforcement, social welfare and judicial professionals in
workshops that help them gain a broader perspective on
trafficking. The training aims to improve understanding of multiagency
and interagency processes, legal tools, case
management systems and support services. With better
delineated roles and responsibilities for evidence collection,
witness protection and trial preparation, investigative processes
can be streamlined and cooperation encouraged.
Results
As a result of USAID assistance, more than 25 trafficking
victims have testified against suspected traffickers. By
September 2006, more than 540 people, including 300
prosecutors, will have been comprehensively trained in laws
and techniques to combat trafficking. Prosecutors now work
with police during victim questioning and help victims
communicate their experiences to the authorities. A dozen
multi-sectoral teams have been formed and are involved in the
majority of trafficking prosecutions, and better evidence
collection techniques have allowed courts to expedite trials of
trafficking suspects.
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