On 19 July 2022 at 23.00 hrs. (12.00 hrs. ET), the U.S. State Department released the 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report (2022 TIP Report), which assessed the trafficking in persons situation around the world. The 2022 TIP Report placed Thailand in Tier 2, upgrading from Tier 2 Watch List in the previous year. The Report noted that the Thai government made significant and increasing efforts in combatting human trafficking, in which key progress included the increasing numbers of trafficking investigations and identified victims, the finalization of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) which extends the reflection period to 45 days, the establishment of a new human trafficking victim identification center, the development of guidelines for victim identification in labour trafficking and forced labour in accordance to the anti-trafficking law, as well as the prosecution and sentencing of complicit officials.

On this occasion, the Honourable Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State presents the 2022 TIP Report Heroes awards to honour 6 individuals with outstanding contribution to the fight against human trafficking. Mrs. Apinya Tajit, Deputy Director of the Stella Maris Seafarer’s Center, Thailand, was honoured as one of 2022 TIP Report Heroes for her outstanding achievement in providing assistance to forced labour victims, particularly in fishing industry. Mrs. Tajit has been working closely with relevant agencies in combatting trafficking in persons. The Ambassador of Thailand to the United States also attended the 2022 TIP Report launch and TIP Report Heroes ceremony to extend his congratulations.

The Royal Thai Government and all relevant agencies are fully committed to anti-trafficking efforts, which is the national agenda, in order to protect and prevent Thai citizens and foreign nationals in Thailand from falling victims to human trafficking, adhering to human rights and humanitarian principles. Over the years, the Government has continued to improve relevant law and regulations, enhance the efficacy of anti-trafficking efforts, and develop partnerships across all sectors, including the private sector and the civil society, to advance concrete outcomes in the prevention and suppression of trafficking in persons.

The Royal Thai Government has also promoted international cooperation to enhance capacity-building and increase efficacy in combatting all forms of human trafficking and forced labour. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs fosters networks of partnerships between relevant Thai agencies, such as the Royal Thai Police, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and the Ministry of Labour, with foreign government agencies, private sectors, and civil society organisations, including the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Labour, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), as well as promotes the collaboration with the Australian Government under the ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking partnership in establishing the Regional Centre of Excellence for Combatting Trafficking in Person in Thailand.