Human trafficking for sex exploitation in Thailand (original) (raw)

Genealogy of Thailand's Policy and Approach to Human Trafficking for labor and Sexual Purposes 1

KKUIJ, 2020

This paper discusses the genealogy of the anti-trafficking policy in Thailand since the needs for such policy arose from the recent past to the present practices (1900-2017). The explicit question this paper asks are blow-by-blow narrative of the policy changes and the relatively recent stationary position of such policy evolution. The methods are historical narratives, turning points, and other necessary steps in the genealogy and political economy approach. The materials are taken from some research data and secondary data from the larger research project entitled "Technologies and Human Trafficking in Thailand" which is done in Samut Sakhon Province. To follow the clues from Sorajjakool's (2013) clues on the most important issues in trafficking, this paper takes two of the most important aspects of human trafficking in Thailand: trafficking for sexual purposes and for labor. The analysis of the two phenomena is based on [policy] genealogical methods (problematization, episodical retrace, exemplary narrative, and cyclical recurrence). Using the political economy KKUIJ 10 (2) : May-August 2020 KKU International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 92 analysis, the paper shows that Thailand recently has ended up with a rather mixed way between the micro-level and intermediate-level of analysis and policy approach through the creation of border and immigration/ security system to manage migration along with the care of the victims through government-sanctioned "raids" to trafficking sites.

Prostitution in Thailand and Women's Rights

Thailand"s capital city Bangkok is called as Krung Thep in Thai language which means City of Angels. It is indeed a very accurate name in a negative way for the city since Bangkok (as the rest of the country) contains plenty of female sex workers starting at a very young age with no life experience. Even though prostitution is illegal in the country and the government adopted various policies and laws in this regard, commercial sex and women trafficking still continues to violate women"s rights in Thailand. Is the government progressive with its national policies on the issue and how effective is the UN as the most comprehensive (in terms of sphere of influence and range of subjects) human rights defender? The current situation, ineffective laws and regulations of the government, submissive public opinion limited by existing social norms and the UN CEDAW with its shortcomings show that Thai women will continue to be exploited a long time.

The Phenomenon of Cross-Border Human Trafficking: Complexities of Exploitation Issues in Thailand

2011

The aim of this article is to analyze the phenomenon of cross-border human trafficking relating to the complexities of exploitation in Thailand. Drawing on some empirical research, but mainly offering conceptual ideas, this paper demonstrates the complexities of the exploitative issues of both human trafficking in labor and sexual exploitation in women and children in which the different forms of vulnerability and exploitation have been neglected and de-conceptualized in the context of trafficking and protection in international human rights regime. Most cases of trafficking have been interpreted in the wider perspective of illegal migration and transnational crime and have often been undermined or duplicated in the context of human smuggling or have not been applied to the protection measures under the trafficking laws. Recent discourses have revealed the complicated characteristics of emerging exploitation in other aspects of migration i.e. border crossing and procurement of trave...

Regulated Bodies: Sex Trafficking and Sex Work in Thailand

Synergy: The Journal of Contemporary Asian Studies , 2021

Thailand is renowned as one of the most popular sex tourist destinations in the world; with the industry estimated to have contributed to 12% of its GDP in the year 1998.[1] Alongside its natural landscapes and its bustling street food culture, some of the commodities it exclusively offers to both its tourists and domestic populace includes the sexual services of women, children and men who have been trafficked from the nearby Mekong sub-region. Not only is Thailand a country of destination and origination when it comes to sex trafficking victims, but it is also a country of transit.[2] This means that Thailand is so entrenched in routes and networks of sex trafficking that its populace, particularly its ethnic minorities and those who hail from its lowest economic strata are shipped off as mail to order brides and sex workers to other countries, while acting as both a workplace for those who have been sex-trafficked in the region and as a point of transit for those victims waiting to be shipped to a different destination country.

2010 (Pierre Le Roux, Jean Baffie and Gilles Beullier, eds), The Trade in Human Beings for Sex in Southeast Asia. A General Statement of Prostitution and Trafficked Women and Children, 512 p.

Bangkok, White Lotus & IRASEC (CNRS & French Ministry of Foreign Affairs), on behalf of the ANESVAD Foundation (Bilbao, Spain), preface by Prof Marco Scarpati, postface by Prof Thomas Steinfatt, 512 p.

“The Trade in Human Beings for Sex in Southeast Asia” brings together 28 senior scholars and experts hailing from all over the world in various disciplines: Ethnology and Social Anthropology, Sociology, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Psycho-Criminology, Police, Medicine, Law, Economics, History, as well as Humanitarian assistance to give a general statement on slavery, prostitution and trafficking in persons in this region. In recent years, prostitution and trafficking in women and children for the purpose of sexual exploitation have been steadily increasing at an alarmig rate. Underlying reasons are not only the ongoing process of globalization and the lagging behind of the concerned emerging economies, but also a number of cultural factors specific to this region. The problem’s background in given in Part 1: "A look at the past"; Part 2 provides the "data from field studies in human trafficking and prostitution"; Part 2 deals with "additional related problems and suggests possible responses". An indispensable work covering all aspects of this complex problem and proffering suggestions to deal with it

The Thai Government’s Repatriation and Reintegration Programmes: Responding to Trafficked Female Commercial Sex Workers from the Greater Mekong Subregion

International Migration, 2009

Since the 1990s, trafficked women and girls from neighbouring countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), including Myanmar, Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos), Cambodia, Viet Nam, and Yunnan province in southern China, have increasingly migrated to Thailand and worked in the country's thriving commercial sex industry. In response, the Thai government has launched a range of programmes to supplement its earlier programmes designed primarily to combat internal trafficking. This paper concentrates on one component of the Thai government's response: repatriation and reintegration. The paper is organized as follows: First, a definition of human trafficking, particularly as it relates to women and children, is provided. Second, a succinct discussion of the history of the domestic trafficking of women and girls into commercial sex work in Thailand, focusing especially on the Thai government's broad response to this dilemma, is given. Third, the dynamics of the relatively recent surge of trafficked women and girls from neighbouring GMS countries working in Thailand's commercial sex industry and the Thai government's efforts to combat this are discussed. Finally, the paper focuses on repatriation and reintegration in

The Prostitution Business of Greater Mekong Subregion Women in Bangkok and the Adjacent Areas

Review of European Studies, 2016

This paper is a qualitative based research, conducting in-depth interviews with 18 subjects consisting of GMS prostitutes working in Bangkok and other relevant informants. The objectives of this research are to study characteristics of the prostitution business in Bangkok and the adjacent areas and to study dynamics of causes, motivation, and the processes of how GMS women entering the prostitution business in Bangkok. The research results show that the entertainment places secretly provide prostitution services in Bangkok and the adjacent areas run the business openly. GMS women and Thai women providing prostitution services is illegal in Thailand. GMS women travelling to Bangkok to provide the prostitution services come from Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, China, and Cambodia, respectively. Although the government takes strict action, the prostitution business cannot be completely eradicated. The most important problem is corruption of government officials in various areas. As for the recommendations, it is advised that there should be a study of international practices consisting of crime control models, especially elimination of corruption of government officials in various areas, legalization model, or decriminalization model in the offence of the prostitution service to study the models suitable for the current situations.

Human Trafficking Issue in ASEAN Countries: A Discussion to Overcome

Sang Pencerah: Jurnal Ilmiah Universitas Muhammadiyah Buton

Human trafficking is a significant issue in ASEAN countries and across the world, characterized by the exploitation and abuse of individuals for forced labor and sexual exploitation. To overcome this issue, various policies and strategies have been adopted by the United Nations and many countries. However, the effectiveness of these efforts is difficult to measure due to the hidden and often under-reported nature of human trafficking. In ASEAN countries, there have been some steps taken to address this issue, such as the adoption of the ASEAN Convention against Trafficking in Persons, but much more needs to be done to effectively address this persistent problem. Addressing human trafficking requires a coordinated and sustained effort from governments, civil society organizations, and the international community as a whole. The implementation and impact of these policies and strategies must be closely monitored and evaluated to ensure their effectiveness in addressing human trafficki...