Thailand plans leading role in anti-trafficking campaign

Bangkok, Dec 5: Thailand has contributed $100,00 to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) fund to run a regional information campaign aimed at raising awareness among migrants, the media reported on Saturday.

"Thailand will also play a leading role in the campaign with the IOM to solve the problem at its root causes," Apichart Chinwanno, permanent secretary for foreign affairs, said on Friday.

The fund is meant to ensure migrants who might be victims of human trafficking rings understand the risks of trafficking networks. He said relatives will also be the campaign's targets as they normally pay for family members' migration, the Bangkok Post reported.

Apichart said the campaign is expected to prevent movement of irregular migrants from taking place in the future and tackle the number of smugglers across Southeast Asia.

The Myanmar representative pledged to take responsibility for its migrant problem but did not elaborate on how it would solve concerns directly related to the Rohingyas.

Myanmar is currently in a transition phase, thus the pledge to take responsibility is seen as very positive, Apichart added.

IANS