Empowering Women: A Critical Force in the Fight Against Human Trafficking in Thailand

With Thailand once again in the headlines for human trafficking, it is essential to address the progress made and shortcomings in countering human trafficking – particularly as it relates to its impact on women. Sharing long, porous borders with Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, and Vietnam uniquely positions Thailand as a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking. Thailand has the 14th highest frequency of human trafficking out of the 27 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and ranks 79th out of 160 countries worldwide. While women are more susceptible as victims of human trafficking, they also often spearhead counter-trafficking efforts. This article explores the crucial role women play in combating human trafficking in Thailand and examines the structural setbacks they continue to face in achieving broader impact.

In the Spotlight: Human Trafficking in Thailand 

In January, human trafficking was pushed back into the spotlight in Thailand due to the widespread outcry over the disappearance of Chinese actor Wang Zing from the Thai border city of Mae Sot. Zing flew into Bangkok for a supposed casting call, only to be abducted and trafficked into one of the many scam compounds in Southeast Asia, becoming one out of hundreds of thousands of individuals subjected to forced labor and exploitation in the region. In response to the actor’s abduction, Thailand has launched one of its most extensive counter-trafficking operations - cutting electricity, fuel, and internet access to known scam compound regions along the Myanmar-Thailand border.

This incident sheds light on the broader issue of human trafficking in Thailand. According to the Walk Free Foundation’s 2023 Global Slavery Index, an estimated 401,000 individuals experienced modern slavery in Thailand on any particular day in 2021. Modern slavery involves “situations of exploitation in which a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception, or abuse of power,” and human trafficking is one of its most prevalent forms. Globally, more than 70% of the estimated 50 million individuals suffering under modern slavery are believed to be female, making women and girls particularly vulnerable to human trafficking. In 2019, Thailand saw an unprecedented volume of human trafficking cases, with 60% of the individuals rescued being women who had been primarily trafficked in the seafood and sex trade industries. 

The Thai government has taken major steps to increase investigations and prosecutions of trafficking cases, as well as the number of identified victims. However, the scale of trafficking makes clear the issue goes far beyond the realm of human rights. Rather, it is a detriment to national and international security, as it exploits populations and fuels organized crime. As Thailand continues to bolster national initiatives to combat human trafficking, the efficacy of such campaigns will depend on the successful integration of legal frameworks, effective victim support systems, and most importantly, sustained efforts to address gender disparities in key sectors involved in combating trafficking. Given the disproportionate effect on women, understanding gender-specific realities of trafficking is crucial for launching effective counter-trafficking initiatives and providing proper care for victims. 

Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking in Thailand

Thailand has made relative strides over the past decade to advance the implementation of national frameworks addressing the unique experiences of women impacted by human trafficking. In 2013, Thailand ratified the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, and its current legislation on trafficking aligns with the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) crafted its own Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP), which Thailand ratified in 2016. 

In May 2024, Thailand and Australia launched the Counter Trafficking in Persons Centre of Excellence (CTIP COE) in Bangkok, unveiling the first center devoted to training professionals in human trafficking response in Southeast Asia. Its intent is to position Thailand as a regional leader on combating trafficking, starting with the introduction of a new curriculum focused on victim-centered, gender-sensitive approaches, as well as prosecution, victim protection, and ensuring victim’s access to justice. 

According to the 2024 U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report, the number of trafficking investigations in Thailand have meanwhile continued to increase – growing from 253 cases in 2022 to 312 in 2023. The number of prosecutions and victims identified and referred to victims services has also increased due to growing access to justice mechanisms and improved law enforcement proficiencies. In 2023, 2,168 officers trained in special programs focused on victim identification and the referral process to safeguard and support survivors. While the full impact of these reforms has yet to be fully realized, they indicate meaningful engagement by the Thai government. 

Thailand currently exceeds the efforts of other countries in the Asia-Pacific region to combat trafficking, coming in third behind Australia and the Philippines with a government response rating of 55% – as compared to Australia’s 67% rate. Despite these efforts, one fact cannot be ignored: women are still highly underrepresented in the jobs most interlinked with combating human trafficking in Thailand.

Obstacles for Women in Thailand’s Security & Justice Sector 

While Thailand may outpace many neighboring countries in its efforts to counter human trafficking, the country still lags behind in its initiatives to incorporate women into these efforts. Particularly in the ASEAN region, a UN Women report found that greater female representation in frontline or leadership capacities contributes to more valuable investigations focused on the experiences of women and girls. 

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Regional Program Coordinator Felipe De La Torre noted, “Female first responders are better equipped in certain circumstances, particularly to female victims of trafficking, domestic abuse, and sexual violence who feel they can confide in them.” When women have law enforcement officials they can relate to, a rapport built on trust is easier to achieve. This leads to more victims coming forward, resulting in stronger cases. Without adequate female representation on the front-lines, trafficking victims are less likely to report, fueling organized crime and insecurity. Yet women in Thailand face challenges to entry and barriers to career progression in law enforcement and the judiciary, both of which are vital to decreasing human trafficking.

In 2009, women were permitted entry into the Royal Police Cadet Academy (RPCA), where they can obtain a four-year bachelor’s degree as a prerequisite for entry into the Royal Thai Police force. However, in 2019, the Cadet Academy announced new criteria for acceptance, mandating registrants to have completed two years of training at the male-only Pre-Cadet Academy of the Armed Forces, effectively blocking women’s entry into the Royal Thai Police via the RPCA. Although women can join the police force through other Thai higher-education institutions, they fail to benefit from the networking opportunities granted to men that support longterm career development. In 2019, women made up only 16% of commissioned police officers in Thailand at the start of the RPCA ban. This restriction limits women’s career progression and may discourage many from pursuing a career in law enforcement.  

The judicial sector in Thailand has fared better with the appointment of four female Supreme Court presidents since 2020. In 2021, women made up 28.73% of public prosecutors and 33.63% of judges in Thailand. However, barriers remain, such as family obligations, patriarchal norms, and gender stereotypes that hinder gender equality and keep women from obtaining more leadership positions. 

 Women Making a Difference 

Yet despite such barriers, women are still finding ways to make inroads in the judicial and law enforcement sectors. In 2019, Pol Col Pwaina Ekchat became the first female superintendent in Royal Thai Police History, making her the first woman to hold a top-ranking position at a police station. Women are also playing an integral role in the development of guidelines to better service victims of human trafficking. Judge Jarimjit from the Office of the President of the Supreme Court worked with ASEAN-ACT in 2022 to discuss Thailand’s efforts to adopt “trauma-informed” approaches in handling victim testimonies and evidence. 

Women are also making a difference in combating human trafficking beyond roles in government positions. Siriwan Vongkietpaisan, founder of SR Law, utilizes innovative litigation practices to diminish human trafficking while calling for policy reform to address discriminatory laws, providing free legal services to low-income individuals, and finding justice for trafficking victims. Dornnapha Sukkree founded MAST Human, a nonprofit social venture devoted to challenging the root causes of human trafficking and illegal fishing in Southeast Asia. Through technology, Sukkree is intent on preventing human trafficking, developing the MAST Human Intelligence App to track worker safety and welfare through location tracking, emergency alerts, criminal reporting, worker education, and crowdsourced communications. 

Women like Nunnaree Luangmoi are working with businesses and community members to oppose trafficking. She founded the Center for Girls in 1997, aimed at preventing human trafficking in her hometown by helping women acquire life skills. In 2012, she continued her efforts in Chiang Khong in northern Thailand, where much of the population consisted of ethnic minorities and undocumented individuals more susceptible to trafficking. Through her efforts she’s developed “women-led community-monitoring and awareness-raising mechanisms” and partnerships with local hotels and drivers to create a monitoring network on human trafficking. Security concerns, including human trafficking, often require a multi-sector approach for solutions, but this is only possible in Thailand if women feel empowered in positions that can enact change. These women-led initiatives in countering trafficking are powerful, but they are too few and far between. 

Looking Forward

As Thailand steps up efforts to combat human trafficking, it should prioritize partnerships and gender equality within its law enforcement. The Royal Thai Police should emulate the actions of their neighbors and reinstate women’s ability to register for the Royal Police Cadet Academy. Law enforcement agencies in neighboring ASEAN countries, such as in the Philippines, which ranks higher than Thailand for government response to human trafficking, allow women to join law enforcement through the traditional police academy route. In the Philippines, each police station has a “women’s desk” to ensure women and children receive proper treatment and women are handled by female officers. Similar initiatives would be beneficial in Thailand. 

Additionally, Thailand’s government should increase partnerships with countries like Australia that champion the role of women in combating human trafficking. Australia has the strongest government response to human trafficking in the Asia-Pacific region and the second strongest response worldwide. Australia serves an ideal model in the region with the Australian Federal Police being approximately 40% women. Thailand has made significant progress in combating human trafficking, and enhancing female representation in law enforcement, along with partnerships with countries prioritizing gender equality, will only strengthen these efforts. 

As a guest blog, the views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Our Secure Future or any particular organization.