IOM and the Thai Ministry of Social Development and Human Security
(MSDHS) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on
Cooperation in the Implementation of Projects Addressing
Trafficking in Persons and Assistance to At-Risk Groups.

Since 1998 IOM has worked in close cooperation with MSDHS, and
in particular with the Department of Social Development and Welfare
(DSDW) on raising awareness of human trafficking and providing
return and reintegration services to victims from the Greater
Mekong Sub-region (GMS).

This cooperation has led to the repatriation of more than 2,300
victims of trafficking to date, supported by a range of related
capacity strengthening training initiatives targeting social
workers, care providers and other related social welfare staff.

These have contributed to the development of a comprehensive
victim assistance framework that addresses the psycho-social
recovery of trafficking victims and promotes their safe, voluntary
return and reintegration into society.

IOM has also played a key role in supporting the Ministry's
bilateral and regional cooperation efforts, at both the policy and
operational levels, through facilitating bilateral coordination
meetings that have led to the signing of bilateral counter
trafficking MOUs between Thailand and Cambodia and Thailand and the
Lao PDR. It has also supported study visits and bilateral exchanges
with Vietnam, Myanmar and China.

IOM has also implemented programmes supporting the Ministry's
mandate to help Thai victims returning from abroad. In cooperation
with IOM offices in countries of destination including Japan,
Italy, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United
States, the project has helped 97 Thai women to return home.

Yesterday's MOU will facilitate and strengthen the establishment
of a cooperation framework focusing on the following five
areas:

• Mutual cooperation in establishing care and assistance
  programmes for victims of trafficking, including: victim screening
  and identification procedures; building referral mechanisms and
  institutionalizing "good practice" shelter management arrangements;
  and establishing operational standards and arrangements for the
  return of victims.
• Providing training and other capacity building support to MSDHS
  staff, other relevant government officials, and other people
  responsible for implementing national policies and programmes
  addressing human trafficking.
• Facilitating bilateral and multilateral cooperation between
  Thailand and other concerned countries on the issue of return and
  reintegration of victims.
• Facilitating the development of bilateral and multilateral
  agreements, MOUs and standard operational procedures supporting
  bilateral cooperation on trafficking between Thailand and other
  relevant countries that is in the best interest of the
  victims.
• Developing national awareness-raising and prevention strategies
  aimed at reducing vulnerability to trafficking through cooperation
  with the MSDHS provincial offices.

For further information, please contact:

Chris Lom at IOM Bangkok

Tel. +66.819275215

E-mail: clom@iom.int