The document provides an overview of child trafficking in Southeast Asia, with a focus on Thailand. It defines child trafficking and outlines its background, impact, and contributing factors. Current trafficking situations are examined for Southeast Asian countries and Thailand through a case study. International, regional, governmental and non-governmental efforts to combat trafficking are summarized. A multi-dimensional approach is proposed as a possible solution, targeting prevention, detection, prosecution, and victim reintegration through micro and macro level initiatives. However, the global effort against child trafficking in Southeast Asia remains largely ineffective due to ongoing challenges.

1. Trafficking of Children in
South-East Asia
A Critical Transnational Organised Crime Analysis
Juliyanti Jalil | 13 June 2016 | Bond University

2. The global war against
child trafficking in
South-East Asia is only
effective to the extent that it
only raises
global awareness.

3. Outline
• Definitions
• Impact and Harm
• Background
• Current Crime Situation in South-East Asia (SEA)
• Case Study (Thailand)
• Current International, Regional and Governmental Efforts
• Factors Contributing to the Crime
• Multi-Dimensional Approach as a Possible Solution
• Conclusion
• Discussion
• References

4. Trafficking of Children
• Human Trafficking involves the action in which the person(s)
are brought from one place to another, the means to do so
and the goals for such action (Aronowitz, 2012, p.218)
• For trafficking to occur, each of the three elements must be
present (Aronowitz, 2012, p.218; UN, 2002)
• In cases involving children (persons under the age of 18),
the action is still considered as trafficking regardless of the
‘means’ involved (UN, 2002, p.2)
• 3 subgroups of children: Adolescent (about 15 to 18 years
old), pre-pubescent children, and toddlers or babies
(UNICEF, 2006)

5. Trafficking of Children
The recruitment, transportation,
transfer, harbouring or receipt, of any
persons under the age of eighteen, for
the purpose of exploitation
(UN, 2002, p.2)

6. Background: History
• Human trafficking has been existence for centuries.
• According to UNODC (2008), trafficking in persons has existed
since 200 years ago and has been an international issue
• Labour and sexual exploitation of persons as a result of human
trafficking generate about US$32 billion annually (Andrees, 2008)
• Adult women accounts as the majority of the victims identified,
followed by children (UNODC, 2008).
• Children are supposed to be protected by virtue of their age and
position as a dependent individuals in human society (Hartjen &
Priyadarsini, 2012).
• Violation of a child’s human right and is a crime (UNICEF, 2006)

7. Background: Child Victims
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
2008 2011
No. of trafficked victims identified
(International Organisation for Migration, 2015)
Child Victims Adult Victims
25%
13%
• The number of identified children being trafficked has been
increasing (IOM, 2015)
• In 2014, the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons informed that one in
every three known victims of human trafficking is a child (UNODC, 2015)

8. Background:Reasonsfor Child Trafficking1
Family /
Guardians
Basic Needs
Expectation
of Income
Child
Basic Needs
Expectations
of Income
Aspirations
Physical and
Emotional
Security
Not a choice
(Abducted)
Trafficker
Expectations
of profit
Socio-cultural
practices
Weak child
Protection System
Weak law
enforcement
Transition /
Economic Crisis
Natural
Disasters
Conflicts
(UNICEF, 2006)

9. Background:Reasonsfor Child Trafficking2
Employers
Expectation
of Income
Clients or
Consumers
Preference
for service or
products
Public
Ignorance
Indifference
Socio-cultural
practices
Weak child
Protection System
Weak law
enforcement
(UNICEF, 2006)

10. Human
Trafficking
Sex
Trafficking
Labour or
Domestic
Servants
Illegal
Organ
Trade
Drugs
Peddling
Smuggling
Begging
Soldiers
Forced
marriages
Other
crimes
Background: Types of Exploitation
(UN, 2002; Aronowitz, 2012; UNICEF, 2006)

11. Recruitment
Transit
Destination
Background:ViciousCycle in Child Trafficking
Exploitation
Exploitation
Exploitation
Exploitation
Exploitation
• Exploitations can occur anywhere along the process, and that the
process of transit and destination can take place over and over again
(Aronowitz, 2012)
• Debt Bondage, religion, cultural belief are some reasons victims do
not attempt to escape (Chrisetensen, 2011)

12. Impact and Harm
Child Society National Security
• Disempowered and
become dependent on
their traffickers (UNICEF,
2006)
• Neglected and ill-treated –
no access to proper
education, health and
protection (UNICEF, 2006)
• Often subjected to life-
threatening situations and
diseases (Rafferty, 2007;
UNODC, 2008)
• Psychological and physical
stress that could impact
reintegration process (IOM,
2007)
• Affect public health
through ignorant
consumers
• Increased cost of
resources devoted
towards prevention,
prosecution of
offenders and
treatment of victims
(UNODC,2008)
• Part of organised
crime and may
involve other forms
of criminal activities
(UNODC, 2008)
• Undocumented
migrants may play a
role in other crimes

13. Background: Policies
• In 2000, the United Nations Convention against Transnational
Organized Crime (UNTOC) enacted the Protocol to Prevent,
Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women
and Children.
• Palermo Protocol
• (a) To prevent and combat trafficking in persons especially
women and children;
• (b) To protect and help such victims with full respect for their
human rights; and
• (c) To promote cooperation among States Parties in order to meet
those objectives
(UN, 2002)

14. Background: Policies 2
• Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) in 2000 aims to uphold
the “3P paradigm”: Prosecuting traffickers, Protecting Victims
and Preventing Trafficking.
• Categorises countries into 4 tiers based on the extent of
governments’ efforts to comply with minimum standards to
eliminate human trafficking.
• Governments must prohibit and punish acts of trafficking by
prescribing punishment that commensurate with that for grave
crimes, and that are sufficiently stringent to deter and reflect
on the heinous nature of the offense.
• Governtments should make serious and sustained efforts to
eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons.
(US Department of State, n.d.)

15. Background: Policies 3
TIER 1 TIER 2 TIER 2 Watch List (WL) TIER 3
Countries
fully
comply
Countries do
not fully
comply but are
making
significant
efforts
(1) Has significant absolute
number of victims of severe
forms of trafficking
(2) Failed to provide evidence of
increasing efforts to combat
severe form of trafficking
(3) Has commitment to take
additional future steps for
compliance
Countries do
not fully
comply and are
not making
efforts to do so
(US Department of State, n.d.)

16. Current Situation: South-East Asia
Map source: Great Mekong Subregion (GMS) Consulting 2010-2011
Countries 2008 2011 2014
Myanmar 3 3 2WL
Thailand 2 2WL 3
Vietnam 2 2WL 2
Cambodia 2 2 2WL
Laos 2 2 2WL
(U.S. Department of State, n.d)
Countries and their Tier Categories
based on the TVPA
• Within the Asia-Pacific region, some of the most extensive flows of human
trafficking is featured in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (UN-ACT, n.d)

17. Current Situation: Asia and Pacific
Thailand
38%
Laos
29%
Cambodia
18%
Vietnam
15%
Child Trafficking and Labour Trafficking Cases in Asia
and Pacific in 2011 (IOM, 2015)

18. Current Situation: South-East Asia
Map source: Great Mekong Subregion Consulting
Countries 2008 2011 2014
Myanmar 3 3 2WL
Thailand 2 2WL 3
Vietnam 2 2WL 2
Cambodia 2 2 2WL
Laos 2 2 2WL
(U.S. Department of State, n.d)

19. Case Study: Thailand
• Relative wealth
• Thailand is relatively wealthier than its neighbours in the
region, and is a key destination for human trafficking in
the Mekong region (UN-ACT, 2014)
• Geographical location
• While majority of victims are locals, those trafficked into
Thailand originate primarily from neighbouring countries
with significantly lower levels of socio-economic
development i.e. Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and
Vietnam via established migration routes along its “long
and porous border” (UN-ACT, 2014)
• Country of origin, transit and destination for
trafficking (US Department of State, n.d; UN-ACT,
2014) and is the destination ‘hub’ of exploitation in
the GMS for both sex and labour exploitation (UNIAP,
2013)
Population: 67million (2014)
Rural population: 65.5%
Poverty: Declined from 67% in
1986 to 11% in 2014, but
growing disparities in household
income and consumption are
significant
(Worldbank, 2016; UNIAP 2013)

20. Case Study: Thailand 2
• Two-thirds of identified victims in Thailand were children
(US Department of State, 2015)
• Many children from Cambodia are trafficked into
Thailand to beg in urban centres (UN-ACT, 2014), and
both boys and girls from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and
Myanmar are subjected to sex trafficking (US
Department of State, 2015)
• Majority of child victims identified were forced, coerced,
or deceived into labour or sexual exploitation by parents
and brokers (US Department of State, 2015; UN-ACT,
2014)
• Traffickers use sophisticated means of transporting
victims and are facilitated by individuals and local level
networks of friends, family members and former victims
and often begin with voluntary migration (UNIAP, 2013)
Source: Chiangrai Times –
child beggars sleeping on the
streets of Bangkok

21. International Efforts
United Nations
Children’s Fund
(UNICEF)
UN Palermo Protocol &
U.S Trafficking
Protection Act
(TVPA)(2000)
International Labour
Organisation
(UN Agency)
Aims to promote the rights
of every child through the
Convention on the Rights of
a Child which also carries
an agreement to jointly
combat cross-border crimes
which was adopted by
Thailand in 1992
(Pink, 2013)
Increases pressure for the
government to take action
to suppress human
trafficking
ILO-Mekong Project to
Combat Trafficking in
Children and Women (ILO-
TICW) organised a school-
based prevention in
Thailand for 6 months 2004
(ILO, 2008)

22. Regional Efforts
United Nations
Inter-Agency
Project on
Human
Trafficking
(UNIAP)(2000)
Coordinated
Mekong
Ministerial
Initiative against
Trafficking
(COMMIT)(2004)
Thailand – Laos
Cooperation
Accord (2007)
Thailand –
Vietnam
Anti-Trafficking
Agreement
(2008)
United Nations
Action for
Cooperation
Against
Trafficking in
Persons
(UN-ACT) (2014)
Facilitate a
stronger and
more
coordinated
response to
human
trafficking in
GMS
MOU against
Trafficking in
Persons to for
governments to
commit to
international
standards to fight
human
trafficking
Provincial-level
agreement to
jointly combat
cross-border
crimes
MOU against
Trafficking in
Persons to for
governments to
commit to
international
standards to fight
human
trafficking
Ensure a
coordinated
approach to
strategically and
effectively
combat
trafficking in
GMS and beyond
Supplement
UNIAP

23. Government Efforts
Royal Thai Government Royal Thai
Police, Office of
Attorney General
and the Ministry
of Justice
Ministry of
Social
Development
and Human
Security
Ministry of
Foreign Affairs
Prevention and
Suppression of Human
Trafficking Act in 2008
criminalises all forms of
trafficking with
penalties from 4 to 10
years imprisonment.
National Policy Strategy
on human trafficking
with labour and civil
society organisations
(US Department of
State, 2015)
Anti-Human
Trafficking
Division (ATHD)
to specialise in
trafficking-
related crimes
(UN-ACT, 2014)
Oversees the
implementation
of Thailand’s
National Plans
against human
trafficking and
network of
victim shelters
(UN-ACT, 2014)
Assist UNIAP
Thailand for
international
coordination

24. Non-government efforts
International NGOs Local NGOs
• World Vision Foundation of
Thailand
• Save the Children UK
• ECPAT
• OXFAM Quebec
• International Rescue Committee
• Anti-Slavery International
• Child Workers in Asia
• Migrant Assistance Program
Foundation
• MTV Exit
• Centre for the Protection of
Children’s Rights
• Fight Against Child Exploitation
• Mekong Region Law Centre
• Mirror Foundation
• Pattanarak Foundation
• Raks Thai Foundation
• Foudation for Child
Development
• Anti-trafficking Coordingation
Unit Northern Thailand
(UNIAP, 2012)

25. Contributing Factors: Nature of Crime
• Tackling trafficking is a challenge
• Trafficking is a series of distinct acts, different countries, thus there is
difficulty for law enforcement to get evidence (UNICEF, 2006)
• Lack of conviction - enforcement agencies often forego prosecution of
traffickers (Pink, 2013; UNDOC, 2008)
• Link between poverty and sexual exploitation (Farrior, 1997)
• Victims unwilling to disclose identities and information (UNIAP, 2013;
Pink 2013)
• Demand in Sex Tourism limits anti-trafficking efforts (UN-ACT, 2014)

26. • Deporting immigration violators increased victim’s risk of being re-
victimised (US Department of State, 2015)
• Lack of trust in government officials (US Department of State, 2015)
• Punishment not stiff enough as a deterrent for a crime that has
substantial profits (Pink, 2013)
• Low paying law enforcement officers may be less motivated to fight
crime, easily intimidated and attracted to the lucrative crime (Pink,
2013)
Contributing Factors: Enforcement Issues

27. • Corruption within the state is rampant (UN-ACT, 2014; US Department
of State, 2015; Pink, 2013)
• Media sources often report about corrupt officials protecting
brothels and other commercial sex venues from raids and
inspections, and engage in sex acts with child trafficking victims (US
Department of State, 2015)
• Police are the major part of the problem (Pink, 2013)
• Will continue to impede progress in combating trafficking
• Thai government has not shown sufficient evidence of increasing
efforts to address human trafficking over the previous years (US
Department of State, 2015; Pink, 2013 )
• Despite the various key players and agencies internationally,
regionally and efforts from NGOs, Thailand still lags in its ability to
suppress child trafficking and human trafficking issues.
Contributing Factors: Governance Issues

28. Current Situation: South-East Asia
Map source: Great Mekong Subregion Consulting
Countries 2008 2011 2014
Myanmar 3 3 2WL
Thailand 2 2WL 3
Vietnam 2 2WL 2
Cambodia 2 2 2WL
Laos 2 2 2WL
(U.S. Department of State, n.d)
The global war against child trafficking in
South East Asia
is only effective to the extent that it only raises
global awareness.

29. Multi-Dimensional Solution: Micro
• Criminalising distinct
acts as common
intention for
trafficking
• Rehabilitation
• Intelligence
• Interception
• Whistle-Blowing
• Rewards oriented
• Morale
• Reduce Poverty
• Reduce Income
Inequality
• Alternative jobs and
opportunities
• Public Awareness
• Re-Education
• Risk Identification &
Protection
• Tip-offs Culture / Social
(Prevention,
Detection &
Re-integrate)
Economy
(Prevention)
Law
(Prevention
and
Prosecution)
Policing
(Detection and
Prosecution)

30. Multi-Dimensional Solution: Macro
• Definitions
• International
Assistance
• Diplomacy
• Intelligence
• Whistle-Blowing
• Regional Policing and
Investigation
• Dedicated Liaison
officers
• International shelters
• Effective
Identification
• Joint R&D
• Network building
• Objective patrol
• Reward system
• Whistle-Blowing
• Repatriate and
Black-list offenders
• Effective
Identification
Border
Control
(Prevention
and
Detection)
Capability
Building
(Prevention
and
Detection)
International
Cooperation
(Detection
and
Prosecution)
Joint Policing
(Detection
and
Prosecution)

31. Conclusion
• Challenging to combat trafficking due to the its nature as a
Transnational Organised Crime.
• Solution requires dedication and good coordination - all
relevant parties must work together
• Need for international assistance to share expertise
• Should expertise exists only in certain countries, only one part of
the trafficking chain is uncovered (Aronowitz, 2012)
• Possibility of displacement of crime and crime evolving into
creative ways to avoid detection

32. Discussion
In the article “Human Trafficking on Trial in Thailand” by NY Times 25
March 2016, several politicians, police officers and a top army general
are currently on trial for being corrupt and colluding with traffickers.
Is there a way to prevent human trafficking in a country in which the
government is corrupt?

33. References 1
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