Thailand

Where your monthly gift brings freedom and hope to survivors of human trafficking.

Thailand

Where your monthly gift brings freedom and hope to survivors of human trafficking.

สวัสด  (Soo –a sdei)
Hello in Thai

 

Welcome to Thailand - the next stop on your journey with World of Difference!  

Known as the Land of Smiles, Thailand is a blend of ancient culture, natural beauty and vibrant modern life, making it one of the world’s most visited destinations. Yet beneath the surface lies a harsh reality. According to the Global Slavery Index, an estimated 401,000 Thai people are trapped in modern slavery.*   

Join us to see the world of difference your monthly gift is making in Thailand!  You’re helping disrupt exploitation and abuse, setting women and children on a path to freedom.  

WORLD OF DIFFERENCE

Where is Thailand?

Thailand is in the heart of Southeast Asia, with Cambodia and Laos to the east and Myanmar to the west. The country has a population of more than 70 million people. The vast majority (90%) of people are Buddhists and agriculture and tourism make up the bulk of the economy.

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Fighting for justice in Thailand

Thai tourism is driving modern slavery demand, as vulnerable women and children desperate for a way out of poverty, are coerced by human traffickers. 

Tearfund’s partner LIFT has been confronting human trafficking head-on since 2013. Together we’ve worked alongside Thai authorities to identify and protect survivors and hold perpetrators to account. LIFT’s strategic work has led to arrests, convictions, and freedom for women and children to begin their healing journey. The support of people like you has made a world of difference! Hundreds of women and children have been rescued, 199 human traffickers have been prosecuted, and our partners have provided life-restoring aftercare. 

Areas of operation

Case Building Law enforcement support Court proceedings support Social work support

Since 2011

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Sitting in a karaoke bar...

Miu knew no other life than the one she lived day after day in nightclubs and bars. Her mother was a prostitute - exploited and alone.
She'd never met her father. 'What options do I have?' she would think to herself. Hopelessness was a close companion.

Miu and two other girls were rescued by Tearfund’s partner, who brought the girls to safety. The offenders were found guilty of
prostitution and child sex trafficking offences and sentenced to 35 years in prison. 

 

Chu, a social worker with Tearfund's partner, has been looking after Miu since her rescue. She has been supported with
counselling and encouragement in every step of her healing journey. Taking one day at a time
Miu has found a hope she didn't know existed, and is busy making plans for her future:

“I want to be an electrician because I loved seeing the light shine through the darkness.
If a light bulb breaks, I want to be the person who fixes it and makes the lamp shine again.” 

Shining light into the darkness

Survivors Jan, Nice and Miu share their stories and what they hope for the future.

I am now free.”

Justice that restores

The legal process, when carried out with compassion, dignity, and with a survivor-centred approach, can become a pathway to healing, according to LIFT's legal team leader, Pik. At the recent Asia Regional Anti-Trafficking Conference in Chiang Mai, she told delegates about a human trafficking case in the Thai court of appeal that took five long years to reach a verdict. When the guilty verdict was finally announced, Pik described the survivor standing to declare:

"A chain has been unlocked from my ankle - I am now free."

This moment is a powerful reminder that justice is not solely about sentencing modern slavery perpetrators. True justice brings restoration, dignity, and freedom for survivors of exploitation.

New Zealanders visit LIFT!

Heading to come A group of Tearfund’s Modern Slavery donors recently visited LIFT’s anti-trafficking work in Thailand. They saw first-hand the online investigative processes and range of LIFT’s work seeking justice for trafficking survivors.

While visiting Chiang Mai’s District Courthouse, they were told that the defendant in a major trafficking case had just pleaded guilty in a nearby courtroom! LIFT provided vital evidence in the prosecution, where the offender was sentenced to 12 years in prison, and the survivors were awarded compensation. 

The perpetrator had trafficked two teenage girls across the Thai border into Cambodia, where they were forced to work scams, and tormented with threats of violence and abuse. LIFT was instrumental in rescuing the girls and gathering vital intelligence to prosecute their traffickers. 

It was an unforgettable experience for these supporters of our Modern Slavery work as they witnessed the impact of their donations first-hand, and saw the convicted perpetrator leave the courtroom in handcuffs!  

Revisit previous destinations

While you wait for your next destination, you can find more encouraging stories of transformation by looking back at all the other fantastic places we’ve visited with World of Difference here.