ANTI-TRAFFICKING COORDNATION UNIT NORTHERN THAILAND

Vision
To function as a network center providing a comprehensive range of services regarding human trafficking solutions in Northern Thailand with a professional and effective operation

Background
TRAFCORD was founded in August 2002 with the co-operation of the  Chiang Mai Coordination Center for the Protection of Child and Woman Rights. The main objective is to provide rights protection to children and women as the human trafficking problem continues to worsen in the Mekong Sub-region, especially in the Northern region of Thailand which borders with Burma, China, and Laos.  Thailand plays a role in the three areas of trafficking as a country of origin, of transit, and of destination of human trafficking – all three of which are critical problems and need to be solved urgently.

TRAFCORD was established accordingly to engage in solving the problems of human trafficking in the upper North. It serves as a medium between governmental organizations and private organizations in providing aid to victims of human trafficking. The core sources of funding are contributed by the Asia Foundation, USAID, United Nations Children’s Fund, and the U.S. Embassy.

TRAFCORD is certified by the Committee for National Social Welfare Promotion as a charitable organization with the registration number 1020,  registered in accordance with the Act of Social Welfare Promotion B.E. 2546 (A.D. 2003) on November 20, 2006.  TRAFCORD is also certified by the Committee for Protection and Suppression as an NGO on Anti-Human Trafficking under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act B.E. 2551 (A.D. 2008).

Objectives

1. To serve as a network center between governmental organizations and private organizations in order to provide aid to victims of human trafficking
2. To provide legal and social welfare assistance service to victims of human trafficking
3. To create, promote, and develop the capacity of network organizations engaging in protection and rescuing victims of human trafficking using a multi-disciplinary approach
4. To be a knowledgeable and reliable resource for those concerned with human trafficking and with children’s and women’s rights violations, and to encourage the public to be aware of and responsible for human trafficking problems

Target Groups
TRAFCORD’s mission is to assist all victims of human trafficking who come within its purview. Specifically it targets victims of human trafficking who are within Thailand’s borders, regardless of nationality or legal status, and it serves Thai nationals who have become victims either in Thailand or abroad.

Region of Operation
9 Northern Thai Provinces: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai , Phayao, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Nan, and Tak

Assistance and Protection
TRAFCORD receives human trafficking cases from network organizations and from the general public.  A fact-finding investigation will be conducted to determine the nature of the situation before moving to rescue women and children. Such an operation  generally entails the co-operation of surveillance officers, social welfare officials, and private organizations in a multi-disciplinary team.  The overall performance is considered satisfactory when victims have been rescued and protected while receiving social and legal aid.  The emphasis of TRAFCORD operations is to enhance the process of law enforcement and ensure the application of various mechanisms, such as the Memorandum of Understanding on Prevention, Suppression, and Solution for Human Trafficking Problem in 17 Northern Provinces B.E. 2550 (A.D. 2007),  and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act B.E. 2551 (A.D. 2008), so that victims receive rights protection and wrongdoers are brought before the law.  An example of rights protection activity would be the co-operation of a multi-disciplinary team to rescue both Thai and foreign children and women from sex parlors in the North of Thailand and in Malaysia. TRAFCORD also plays an important role in screening potential victims of human trafficking, especially beggars and children selling flower garlands in Chiang Mai. Occasionally TRAFCORD has rescued migrant workers imprisoned by their employers.

Social Welfare Activities
The services to victims cover their physical, mental, social, and economic needs, and they are the result of the co-ordination and co-operation of network organizations such as the Office of Social Welfare and Human Security Development, protection centers, hospitals, and private organizations.  The assistance focuses on a victim-centered approach, including: damage compensation awarded by the court;  enhancement of victim’s life skills in the form of education and vocational assistance; and the assurance of a safe return to the society. Team capability is regularly strengthened through various activities such as case conferences and rescue planning, which results in the provision of timely services and the prevention of those rescued from becoming victims of  human trafficking again.

Legal Activities
There are two main directions of legal operations:

1. legal aid to victims and their families to provide them rights protection such as legal preparation before entering justice procedures, assistance during the trial process, and provision of lawyers, and
2. the process of monitoring  for and alongside law enforcement and related mechanisms. The operation is based on a multi-disciplinary team that exchanges information, holds meetings and trainings.

Prevention Activities
TRAFCORD has two types of prevention activities: the first type is the development of life skills in at-risk groups and in the general population at regional, provincial, district, sub-district, and village levels to decrease the risk of entering the human trafficking process.  These activities are directed at problems in high-risk areas at the ground level while also providing training to other community organizations in the nine Northern provinces.  Stopwatch for Human Trafficking Community Network in an example of an organization that has benefitted from TRAFCORD training in co-operation with the Department of Consul, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The second type of prevention activity involves public relations campaigns through various forms of media such as printed media, radio, and activities organized in observance of Stop Human Trafficking Day with the co-operation of network organizations in nine provinces in the Northern region.

Public Relations Services
TRAFCORD utilizes various means of public relations to provide people with access to information in all regions.  People can communicate with network organizations and TRAFCORD through:

www.trafcord.org
This website contains academic and legal information, as well as activities to prevent human trafficking. It is an online center to receive cases and to link with websites of neighboring countries.

Information and Statistics of the Human Trafficking Center
The Center provides informative books and manuals on the issue of human trafficking. Most information is located in the “Human Trafficking Information Center.” Apart from lending-borrowing services, interested people can find information on human trafficking situations, research, and other statistics of cases and rescue efforts from the past to the present.

Media for Campaigns and Public Relations
TRAFCORD MEDIA produces and collects media used in campaigns against human trafficking, offering this to network organizations.  Any organizations are welcome to contact TRAFCORD if they are interested in the media.

We invite you to join us in supporting children and women who are victims of violence and human trafficking.

1. Siam Commerce Bank. Account name: TRAFCORD, Account No: 714-212395-2, Chotana Road Branch (Chiang Mai)
2. Donations can be made on the 5th floor of the Province of Chiang Mai Government Center, Chotana Road, Chang Phueak Sub-district, Mueang District, Chiang Mai Province (Chiang Mai)

Statistic of Hotline from January to July 2010

Contact Numbers for reporting cases of human trafficking:

TRAFCORD Hotline  08-7174-5797

Phachabodi  Hotline Center 1300 (Ministry of Social Development and Human Security)

Child, Juvenile and Women’s Welfare Unit Investigation Center, Provincial Police Region 5    Tel. <66>53-280114

If you have any information about cases of human trafficking, please inform the Human Trafficking Prevention and Suppression Center.