IOM, Thailand to cooperate on human trafficking issues

BANGKOK, October 6 (TNA) - The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has pledged to cooperate with Thailand on human trafficking issues. Newly-appointed IOM Head for Thailand Dana Graber Ladek made the pledge in Bangkok on Thursday while meeting with Thai Social Development and Human Security Minister Police General Adul Saengsingkaew to introduce herself. During the meeting, both sides discussed human trafficking issues, covering cooperation between IOM and the Thai government on assisting and protecting human trafficking victims. Police General Adul told journalists after the meeting that his discussion with the new IOM head for Thailand also covered training programmes for concerned personnel and the recruitment of interpreters to talk with foreign victims. According to the minister, Thailand appears to have been on the right direction for including human trafficking issues as part of the national agenda for urgent and clear-cut solutions, especially those concerning women and child victims in the fishery sector. The minister revealed that the IOM head also congratulated Thailand for successfully moving up from the Tier 3 to the Tier 2 category in the US government's Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2016. In response, the new IOM head for Thailand said she is pleased to work together with the Thai Kingdom and promised to provide IOM support and assistance, especially for helping human trafficking victims. (TNA)