On 21 March 2016, Ambassador Pisan Manawapat arranged a meeting between Mr. Maitree Intusut, Permanent Secretary for Social Development and Human Security of Thailand and Ambassador Susan Coppedge, Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, the U.S. State Department at the Ambassador’s Residence. Ambassador Coppedge was joined by other colleagues from bureaus responsible for the Thai – U.S. relations, human rights, labor issues, migration, and law enforcement.
The Permanent Secretary updated Ambassador Coppedge and the State Department colleagues on Thailand’s recent efforts to combat trafficking in persons. Legislation was amended to allow trafficking victims and witnesses to stay and work legally in the country during the investigation. A trial has begun on a big Rohingya trafficking case with 92 suspects involved, including high-ranking officials. The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has provided more training for interpreters to assist victims from neighboring countries. Cooperation between government agencies, NGOs and international organizations was also discussed.
The Permanent Secretary was in the United States for the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York. He stopped by Washington, D.C. to meet with the U.S. counterparts on anti-human trafficking as the issue is high on the Thai Government’s agenda. Thailand will continue to combat trafficking in persons and assist the victims in cooperation with the U.S. and other countries, international organizations, and civil society.
