SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Thai News Service] — January 9, 2015 — The government of Thailand has established five subcommittees to suppress human trafficking, and is set to submit the progress report to the United States within this month, said government spokesman.
According to the Government Spokesman Capt. Yongyut Maiyalap, the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha presided over the conference of the committee on the human trafficking policy and illegal fisheries yesterday.
There are currently two committees directly responsible in tackling the human trafficking issue, namely the Policy Consultation Committee on Human Trafficking and the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Committee.
For increased effectiveness, five subcommittees have been established, namely the Human Trafficking subcommittee, chaired by the Minister of Interior, the subcommittee on Women's Issues, chaired by the Minister of Social Development and Human Security, the subcommittee on Child Labour, Forced Labour and Migrant Workers, chaired by the Minister of Labour, the Fisheries and IUU subcommittee, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and the subcommittee on Legal Affairs and Public Relations, chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Government Spokesman said that each subcommittee will be holding their meetings on various subjects with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense Gen Prawit Wongsuwan as a consultant. The subcommittees were ordered to start working immediately and constantly report the progress without delay, to be presented in the meeting of the big committees.
Meanwhile, the committees have approved the plan to solve the beggars issue through law enforcement, protection, and rescue operation as beggars might be involved with cases of human trafficking.
Regarding the United States Trafficking in Persons Report 2014 where Thailand has been downgraded to Tier 3, the PM's Office Spokesperson said that Thailand will send a progress report of this issue to the United States within 30 January 2015, clarifying Thailand's current policies, law enforcement and prosecution, aid, protection, and cooperation with all related agencies to tackle this issue.
The Deputy Government Spokesman Maj.Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that the government wants to show the global community that Thailand is trying to improve the situation on human trafficking.
He said that the report will highlight the accomplishments, and will include a solution to issues that have not yet been accomplished, with hope that the report will help rebuild the trustworthiness of Thailand to the international community.
This story originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.