On 15 June 2023 at 22.00 hrs. (11.00 hrs. ET), the U.S. Department of State released the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report (2023 TIP Report), assessing the trafficking in persons situation in 188 countries/territories around the world. The 2023 TIP Report placed Thailand in Tier 2 for two consecutive years. The Report also reflected the Royal Thai Government’s and all stakeholders’ strong efforts and progress in preventing and combatting human trafficking, including the increasing numbers of trafficking investigations, prosecutions, convictions and victim identification, the implementation of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the prosecution and sentencing of complicit officials, and enhanced capacity-building for relevant officials.
Combatting human trafficking has long been one of Thailand’s top national agendas. The Royal Thai Government is fully committed and will continue to improve relevant laws and regulations, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen partnership with all stakeholders, including private sector and civil society, as well as international organisations, neighbouring countries, and interested parties like the U.S. The ultimate goals are to eradicate all forms of human trafficking as well as protect and prevent Thai citizens and foreign nationals in the country from falling victims to human trafficking, in line with the principles of human rights and humanitarianism to which Thailand has always adhered.