The 2014 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report has been released, and after four consecutive years on the Tier 2 Watchlist, the US Department of State has downgraded Thailand to Tier 3.
The downgrade means Thailand could potentially face sanctions, which might include the withdrawal of U.S. non-humanitarian and non-trade-related assistance.
Commenting on the downgrade, Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) Executive Director Steve Trent said, “Today’s decision by the United States Department of State to downgrade Thailand is the right course of action given the damning evidence that has continued to emerge throughout 2013 and 2014.”
Despite the threat of a downgrade, EJF says that Thailand has consistently failed to act on the recommendations made in the US Department of State’s 2013 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, as well as falling short of its own commitments to tackle human trafficking.
EJF investigations in 2014 documented the continued prevalence of trafficking in Thailand’s seafood industry and identified specific failings in the Government’s actions to tackle the issue.
However, the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington has said that 2013 Thai law enforcement statistics show significant progress in investigations, prosecutions and convictions of perpetrators, including:
- 674 trafficking investigations by Thai officials in 2013 - more than double from 306 similar investigations in 2012
- 483 trafficking defendants prosecuted in the Thai judicial system in 2013 – five times more than 93 similar prosecutions in 2012
- 225 trafficking defendants convicted in the Thai judicial system and punished for their crimes in 2013 – a more than four-fold increase from 49 similar convictions in 2012
"We are obviously disappointed and respectfully disagree with the State Department's decision,” said H.E. Mr. Vijavat Isarabhakdi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United States of America.
“In 2013, Thailand made significant advances in prevention and suppression of human trafficking along the same lines as the State Department’s standards. While the latest TIP report did not recognize our vigorous, government-wide efforts that yielded unprecedented progress and concrete results, Thailand remains committed to combating human trafficking. It is a national priority.
"While there is still much work to do - and we will not rest until trafficking is ended - Thailand is on the right track. Thailand has made clear progress in combating human trafficking, and we stand ready to do more, in keeping with our firm belief in humanitarianism and the dignity of every individual," commented Ambassador Isarabhakdi.
The report can be downloaded here.
