English Subtitle of PM Weekly Televised Address on December 26, 2014
Start at 15.21 min.
One next topic is about human trafficking. Earlier this week, I convened a meeting to follow up on the progress anti-human trafficking operation in Thailand. The meeting was aimed at assessing and reviewing the work of anti-human trafficking units and the effectiveness of their operations. Information gathered from these operations will be thoroughly discussed with related agencies starting from January 2015 and used as guidelines to formulate trafficking crackdown strategies. The meeting was briefed on the problems and obstacles each agency had been faced with in their efforts to tackle human trafficking. These problems involved law enforcement, victim and witness protection, prevention of human trafficking activities, and building of partnership with other sectors including the private sector, independent organizations, the academic sector, and the media. At the meeting, I ordered all relevant units to review their past performance and improve their working strategies, so that the human trafficking problem can be truly addressed. I instructed that 5 subcommittee to be set up. These 5 subcommittees will be responsible for 1) human trafficking, 2) illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), 3) child, forced, and migrant labor, 4) women, and 5) legislation and public relations. I also instructed the sub-committees to come up with clear goals and plans, with monthly reports on the progress of their operations. On 7 January 2015, the sub-committees are scheduled to propose to me their long-term working strategies as well as their roadmap to create understanding and acknowledgment among foreign nations of our efforts. The number one industry that will be affected by this issue is the fishing industry, a sector that normally generates annual revenue of up to 200 billion baht for Thailand. There are some tasks that must be urgently implemented such as getting all personnel in the fishing industry registered, the process of which must be finished by January 2015. All fishing businesses must be legally registered along with their fishing crews. This is what we must do in our commitment to eliminating human trafficking activities. This matter is very crucial and has a major effect on the country’s stability and the well-being of our people. The problem of human trafficking is deep-rooted and must be entirely eliminated from our society. Thailand has been warned regarding this matter since 2010. At that time, Thailand was only listed in the Tier 2 watch list of the TIPS report and was only until recently that we were downgraded to Tier 3. Therefore, we must be more vigorous about addressing this ongoing problem and seek a sustainable solution to it. The government will need cooperation from all sides-state authorities, traders, and the general public-to put an end to this criminal activity. We must reduce illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities. Thailand prides itself on having maritime security as well as being most proficient in the fishing business. Therefore, we cannot let the problem of human trafficking ruin our future. The system must be better organized to ensure future growth. I ask that every related agency keep a watchful eye and that state officials must not be the ones committing such a crime. Punishments for authorities involved in illegal activities will be severe. There are many forms of human trafficking including trade of women and children, prostitution, and trafficking for begging. These criminal activities can exist in many sectors such as in the fishing industry, hard labor, and child labor, all of which are in violation of the law and unaccepted by the international community. The committee overseeing human trafficking comprises the prime minister as head of the committee, and the four deputy prime ministers who act as deputy chairman. Meanwhile, members of the five subcommittees consist of cabinet ministers who will each be assigned to a specific task. The government has been working to resolve this issue since it took office. We will create awareness and understanding both domestically and internationally. I can assure Thailand’s partners of its commitment to tackle the issue, but all we need is time as everything must go according to the roadmap. Members of the public must act as eyes and ears for the police. Victims and those encountering any forms of human trafficking or any other crimes such as corruption can report to responsible units. The numbers are shown below.
End at 20.38 min.
Source: Youtube http://youtu.be/lrNxFQJXWNM
