Thailand has a strong legislative framework to counter trafficking in persons and related crimes. However, challenges remain in interpreting and applying these laws and working across disciplines, including with NGOs, to pursue strong cases and provide substantive outcomes for victims.
On 17 May 2024, Thailand’s Minister of Justice Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong and Australia’s Ambassador to Thailand Dr Angela Macdonald PSM, officially launched the Counter Trafficking in Persons Centre of Excellence (CTIP COE) at the DSI Academy in the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand. During the opening ceremony a new counter trafficking curriculum was unveiled, which was developed with support from Australia through ASEAN-ACT and with contribution from the Mekong Australia Partnership – Transnational Crime (MAP-TNC).
The CTIP COE is Southeast Asia’s first dedicated training facility which aims to build and sustain a cadre of professionals equipped to respond to all forms of trafficking in persons, including trafficking for labour, sex, forced marriage and forced criminality. The CTIP-COE will make a substantial contribution to the implementation of the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP). Through the CTIP COE, Thailand also aims to become a leader in combatting trafficking in persons by developing a regional hub for the exchange of knowledge and professional expertise.
The official opening represented a significant milestone in the partnership between Thailand and Australia to deepen cooperation in combatting human trafficking and other transnational crimes. It also has the potential to be a model for the rest of the ASEAN region.
Over the past two years, Thailand and Australia has worked steadily to progress the establishment of the CTIP COE, starting with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding to formalise commitment from both countries. This was followed by a scoping study, supported by ASEAN-ACT, which assessed the adequacy of training provided to counter trafficking actors at both national and sub-national levels.
The study recommended options for the development of the CTIP COE over the next five years, commencing with the design, piloting and rollout of a comprehensive curriculum for training government and non-government actors with a role in countering trafficking in persons.
The new curriculum offers a fundamental course on the key competencies required to counter trafficking in persons, including applying victim-centred and gender-sensitive approaches during all stages – from identifying a potential victim of trafficking to supporting their return and reintegration.
The second course, for more advanced practitioners, has been developed for multi-disciplinary teams to problem solve and corroborate information to investigate and prosecute criminal supply chains in the context of trafficking in persons, while also protecting victims and supporting them to access justice.
Following the piloting of both courses with a range of Thai government agencies and selected NGOs, the learning materials will be finalised and rolled out across Thailand and potentially the region.
Press release by Australian Embassy in Thailand (English/Thai)