On February 9, 2016, Ambassador Pisan Manawapat accompanied Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaruvat Vaisaya, Deputy Commissioner of the Thai Metropolitan Police Bureau, to meet with Congressman Chris Smith, author of the International Megan’s Law, at his Rayburn office. The FBI trained police chief in charge of trafficking crime expressed Thailand’s firm commitment to work with the U.S. to protect children worldwide. The bill was signed into law by President Obama on the night of February 8, 2016.
“This important legislation authorizes the creation of a comprehensive reciprocal notification system to significantly expand protections for children worldwide,” said Congressman Smith, who also chairs the House Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Vaisaya told Congressman Smith the International Megan’s Law is in line with Thailand’s policy to root out child sex offenders from the country. A police task force to protect children and women has been established in all provinces nationwide. From his experience dealing with the issue over the years, American tourists constitute the highest number of tourists coming to Thailand for child sexual exploitation. That is why Thailand wishes to work with the U.S. to implement the International Megan’s Law to protect its innocent children.
