Child trafficking in Thailand, whether for sexual exploitation or forced labor, remains a persistent challenge. Despite laws and growing public attention, investigations and prosecutions are often fragmented, reactive, and inconsistently applied. This doctoral research uses a scripting approach to map out how child trafficking cases are actually investigated, identifying structural gaps, promising practices, and points of failure.
Research Objectives
- To investigate how child sex trafficking (CST) and child labor trafficking (CLT) cases are handled by Thai law enforcement
- To construct investigation scripts that trace typical steps, decisions, and breakdowns in CST and CLT cases.
- To provide insights that can inform better coordination, legal clarity, and victim-centered practices.
Methodology
- Analysis of 24 investigative case files of child trafficking selected through stratified sampling.
- Application of scripting to reconstruct investigative pathways, from victim identification to prosecution outcomes.
Key Findings from the Investigation Scripts
- Victim Entry Points:
CST cases often began with NGO intelligence or proactive cyber-investigations. CLT cases emerged mostly through inspections or external complaints, with little proactive engagement. - Investigation Setup:
CST cases frequently involved planned operations, including online surveillance and the use of informants. In contrast, CLT cases were hindered by unclear legal thresholds, limited use of digital tools, and weak case framing.
- Operational Gaps:
Several police units engaged in pseudo-proactive investigations, breaking single networks into multiple cases to meet performance quotas. This practice undermined efforts to dismantle trafficking operations as a whole. - Case Consolidation and Prosecution:
Cases supported by NGOs showed stronger file consolidation and victim care. However, CLT cases often faltered in court due to lack of clear evidence, inconsistent interpretation of “exploitation,” and questions about victim consent. - Systemic Issues:
- Migrant victims with irregular status were less likely to be protected.
- TIP ranking pressure led some police to prioritize statistics over impact.
- Officers lacked clear guidance on identifying trafficking in labor contexts.
Recommendations
- Shift performance metrics from number of cases to quality of outcomes.
- Develop clear investigation scripts and protocols for CLT and CST.
- Expand digital investigation capacity, especially for CLT cases.
- Strengthen legal clarity around labor exploitation indicators.
- Ensure protection frameworks include undocumented migrant children.
References
Mangkhalasiri, P. (2024). Challenges of Investigating and Prosecuting Child Sex Trafficking and Child Labour Trafficking in Thailand (Doctoral dissertation, University College London, United Kingdom).
