Integration of Government and Civil Society for Protecting the Rights of Foreign Trafficking Victims: A Case Study in Tak Province

Abstract

This study examines human trafficking in the form of forced criminality, which has increasingly spread across Southeast Asia. The research pursues three main objectives: (1) to analyze the patterns and methods of trafficking organizations deceiving foreign nationals into entering Thailand before being transported to online scam centers in Myanmar, (2) to identify the challenges and limitations of integrating government and civil society efforts under the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), and (3) to propose collaborative approaches to strengthen the protection of trafficking victims. A qualitative methodology was adopted, drawing on 50 in-depth interview records conducted by civil society organizations with foreign victims, supplemented by interviews with NRM practitioners. Data were analyzed through content analysis to identify trafficking patterns, structural gaps, and potential models of integration.

The findings indicate that (1) trafficking networks employ digital technology and co-nationals as primary tools to recruit victims, while providing comprehensive arrangements for documentation and travel; (2) the NRM faces significant limitations, particularly inconsistent interpretations of victim status and a shortage of adequately trained frontline staff; and (3) proposed integrative measures include establishing a joint victim database, strengthening cross-border collaboration mechanisms, and enhancing the role of civil society organizations in victim screening.

In conclusion, the study underscores forced criminality as a new and pressing challenge for anti-trafficking responses. It highlights that the integration of government and civil society efforts is not optional but essential for ensuring effective victim protection and enhancing the responsiveness of the NRM to evolving trafficking dynamics.