Join Hands and Be Joyful
Join Hands and Be Joyful
The New Year countdown is drawing close and we are reflecting on this past year. It has been a year filled with many stories and challenges for LIFT. However, we can rejoice in the results of our work from our joined hands and team unity. As you know human trafficking is a complicated issue and needs cross-sector collaboration to solve. Even though the coronavirus epidemic (Covid-19) has slightly reduced, its effects have permanently changed our workflows. For example, our investigative team has had to adjust its collaboration with law enforcement to keep up with the shift in sex trafficking toward online forms. Survivor support activities, such as legal assistance or social work, had to be carried out online rather than face-to-face. Through this blog we hope you see what LIFT has experienced, both highs and lows, and rejoice with us.
Our challenging path in 2022
Since the year 2019, LIFT has had to change its strategy for identifying targets, both offenders and victims, from on-site to online. As presented in our LIFTfact series, in the last two years, we have seen a 58% increase in the number of online victims, particularly boys. This is also consistent with the findings of the "Thailand Disrupting Harm 2022" study which found that 9% of children who use the internet have experienced both online sexual harassment and sexual exploitation. One difference between onsite and online investigation is that onsite investigation focuses on gathering tangible evidence in a criminal setting, whereas online investigation focuses on collecting evidence from various resources via the internet. Furthermore, gathering enough evidence to prosecute an offender, requires skills and takes a long time. Another challeng our team had to deal with, was needing to view a large number of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). This has an emotional impact on staff.
"I sometimes feel stress and despair while working frequently with pornography over a long period of time"
- Intelligence Team Member
Furthermore, collaborating with our partners to combat human trafficking was challenging due to disease control measures, including travel restrictions. Most activities assisting survivors in the prosecution and social work had to be adapted online as well.
Overcoming 2022’s challenges
Our internal multidisciplinary team (MDT) has been united in its victim-centric approach and attitude. The team's solidarity has been the most essential part supporting our team in overcoming all challenges. Whether that be shifting strategy to online investigation, limitations in coordinating with partners, or mental effects from handling unfavourable materials, or something else. The driving force behind our team's work is our desire to see survivors set free through justice.
“Through incorporating a human rights and victim-centred approach into our work, including collaborating with survivors with respect for their rights and dignity, we can make a long-term impact on their lives. In the end, they would have developed their potential and be self-sufficient enough to face life's challenges in the future.”
- Social Worker
Our Law Enforcement Support teams have been constantly coordinated to monitor case progression and find the best solutions with Law Enforcement officers to achieve goals. Furthermore, staff self-care in both physical and mental health is very important. If they are under stress, consultation with a psychologist is required. So that they are ready to face challenges in their future work.
Celebrating success after overcoming challenges
Overcoming obstacles with the focus on the benefits for survivors is critical. This is not easy, but ultimately leads us to have a joyful heart and encourages us, seeing that we are a part of bringing justice to survivors. This year, the highest amount of compensation for a case, that we advocated on behalf of survivors, was 1.59 million baht. This is the highest compensation in LIFT's history, as well as significant in terms of what they received in cash, immediately after the court's decision. This amount will enable them to fund their future education, build a better life, and return to their family.
We are confident that LIFT will overcome any challenges that arise at each stage of our work. Even though future challenges are difficult to predict, we can win the fight against human trafficking by working together. If everyone works together, survivors will be safe from the harm of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, resulting in a better life. We would like to thank everyone who has supported LIFT in any way. You played an important role in the joy that 2022 brought.