Trafficking in persons in the North-South, East-West Economic Corridors (EWEC-NSEC-SEC) and Border Area Management

Abstract

As well as facilitating land transportation among ASEAN countries, the formation of ASEAN Economic
Community and the utilization of the North-South and East-West Economic Corridors has given rise to human
trafficking rings. The routes established by ASEAN have been used for transporting trafficking victims.
The research “Trafficking in persons in North-South and East-West Economic Corridors and Border Area
Management” sheds light on the situation of trafficking in persons in Economic Corridors. Issues were found with
varying degrees of severity depending on the local context of each corridor. Major loopholes can be found in natural
passages and temporary border checkpoints which have been exploited by trafficking rings from neighboring
countries to smuggle victims into Thailand. Travelers from Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
arriving at checkpoints are not aware of the definition and pattern of trafficking in persons and they do not think that
they can become trafficking victims. Once they have become trafficking victims, they have no idea how to help
themselves out of the situation they are in.
Findings from this research are useful for developing recommendations for legal and policy reform. The findings
can also be used for border area management, particularly the formation of the “Border Area Development
Committee for Sustainable Solutions to Trafficking in Persons” to enhance the prevention and suppression of
trafficking in persons.