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Officials learn techniques
to combat human
trafficking
Raising Awareness of Trafficking
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Photo: USAID/Phakatip Chungbhivat
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“We were not even aware
of human trafficking laws
on the books before the
training,” said Sakchai
Assaynirarad, a
prosecuting attorney from
the Thai Attorney General’s
office.
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Organized human trafficking syndicates target people with limited education and income as opportunities to be exploited with limited risk of reprisal. At the same time, police and prosecutors treated trafficking victims such as prostitutes and migrant workers as criminals. The judicial and law enforcement
systems lacked an understanding of what distinguishes
trafficking from illegal labor as well as the needed systematic
approaches for prosecuting violations.
With support from USAID, Thai prosecutor, Sakchai
Assaynirarad, formed the Chiang Mai Model, a five-year activity
that offers a full curriculum of courses on trafficking to law
enforcement, social welfare and judicial professionals. The
participants, divided into teams of professional groups, broaden
their perspective on trafficking by learning about the causal
economic, social and political factors. The workshops also
cultivate a better understanding of anti-trafficking laws and
encourage cooperation in prosecuting perpetrators.
“We were not even aware of the human trafficking laws on the
books before the training,” said Sakchai.
By September 2006, more than 540 people will have been
comprehensively trained in laws and techniques to combat
trafficking. According to Sakchai, prosecutors now work with
police during initial questioning, helping 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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