Increasing Impact

LIFT International co-hosted a 3-day seminar on Forensic Interviewing for the Maximum Benefit of Children and Adolescents with the Royal Thai Police and Operation Underground Railroad.

This "Victim-Centered Approach" seminar included lectures, Q&A and practical activities for local police and NGO partners to enhance their skills when interviewing child victims of human trafficking. The training focused on those who work directly with children and teenagers coming out of abusive situations and human trafficking trauma.

LIFT's very own Matthew Valentine, Modern Slavery Specialist, presented a Child Forensic Interview Case Study. Other speakers included Dr. Sombat Tapanya, clinical psychologist; police chief Khemachart Prakyhongmanee, Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs and International Criminal Case in the Department of Special Investigations (DSI); Special Agent Caroline Marshall of the FBI and Dr. Mark Charoenwong, Provincial Attorney General. Over 60 participants from around Chiang Mai included Thai law enforcement agencies, psychologists, academics, social workers and INGO-representatives.

By providing trainings to our partners on the ground who work closely with children and adolescents in trauma, LIFT helps to equip a broad range of professionals with the tools to approach victims with care and the proper methods to gain the evidence needed to prosecute offenders. More than just offering our own such services to the cases we assist, these trainings positively impact exponentially more victims of trafficking and abuse throughout our ever-increasing networks.

We are honoured to be a part of this community of compassionate and intelligent people who care deeply about the safety of children and their futures.