Trafficking in persons in the North-South, East-West Economic Corridors (EWEC-NSEC-SEC) and Border Area Management

Abstract

As well as facilitating land transportation among ASEAN countries, the formation of ASEAN Economic Community and the utilization of the North-South and East-West Economic Corridors has given rise to human trafficking rings. The routes established by ASEAN have been used for transporting trafficking victims. The research “Trafficking in persons in North-South and East-West Economic Corridors and Border Area Management” sheds light on the situation of trafficking in persons in Economic Corridors. Issues were found with varying degrees of severity depending on the local context of each corridor. Major loopholes can be found in natural passages and temporary border checkpoints which have been exploited by trafficking rings from neighboring countries to smuggle victims into Thailand. Travelers from Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam arriving at checkpoints are not aware of the definition and pattern of trafficking in persons and they do not think that they can become trafficking victims. Once they have become trafficking victims, they have no idea how to help themselves out of the situation they are in. Findings from this research are useful for developing recommendations for legal and policy reform. The findings can also be used for border area management, particularly the formation of the “Border Area Development Committee for Sustainable Solutions to Trafficking in Persons” to enhance the prevention and suppression of trafficking in persons.