ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS
PRESS RELEASE
Regional Workshop on Criminal Justice Response to Trafficking in Persons for Forced Criminality in the Southeast Asia Region, Organized by United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) BANGKOK, THAILAND 18th February 2025 – 19th February 2025
On February 18th and 19th, 2025, two judicial officers from the State Judiciary Department and two legal counsels from the Attorney General's Chambers participated in a workshop on trafficking in persons in Bangkok, Thailand, titled "Regional Workshop on Criminal Justice Response to Trafficking in Persons for Forced Criminality in the Southeast Asia Region".
The regional workshop, held by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and sponsored by the European Union, addresses the rising cases of human trafficking linked to forced criminal activities, particularly online scams, which have sharply increased in Southeast Asia since 2020.
This specialized workshop was designed to enhance the capacity of legal practitioners in conducting comprehensive legal analysis and forming recommendations to improve the effectiveness of criminal justice systems in addressing the global issue of trafficking in persons. The focus includes tackling the unprecedented challenges posed by transnational organized crime groups that traffic people for sexual exploitation, forced labor, and, increasingly, forced criminality.
The course provided participants with up-to-date information on best practices from various Southeast Asian countries, as well as the challenges faced during prosecution. Participants were also trained on how to use evidence obtained through investigations effectively to secure convictions for trafficking in persons offenses and ensure justice for victims.
Approximately, forty legal practitioners from nine countries participated in the two-day course. The program also aimed to promote international cooperation to address the increasing crime of trafficking in persons and ensure a stronger response to all forms of exploitation.
