2024 US TIP Report and LIFT's Responses to Combating Human Trafficking
TIP Report Outcomes and Recommendations
As our world increasingly becomes interconnected through the advances of technology, nocuous acts of human trafficking abuse these technological innovations to exploit victims across different nationalities, age, ethnicity, sex, cultural background, socio-economic status, and education attainment level. Its horrendous crimes extending national borders violate the rights and human dignity of individuals and communities in exchange for insatiable greed. Human trafficking accumulates a global profit of approximately US $150 billion dollars annually[1], prompting the necessity for transnational partnerships and action amongst multidisciplinary stakeholders to eradicate this extensive crime.
An international effort to protect the human rights of those exploited and encourage collaboration in anti-human trafficking work is evident through the implementation of the Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report), published by the US Department of State.This year, Thailand remains in Tier 2, reflecting the country’s continuous commitment to making significant efforts for its removal from society and further need for assistance in meeting the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. [2]
The 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report commend the Government of Thailand and partners in their efforts to mobilise trafficking investigations and prosecutions, identify trafficking in person victims, and combat signs of complicity in the justice process. Key recommendations highlight the need to implement a victim-centred and trauma-informed approach to investigations, and further train relevant officials on trafficking indicators, anti-trafficking law, and victim identification in a rapidly changing landscape that now utilises technology as a tool for exploitation.
Globalisation has brought forth positive conveniences, yet as global citizens living in an increasingly interdependent world, we must be attentive to the unforeseen drawbacks of our interconnectivity; especially regarding the use of technology. Now, more than ever, the fight for justice requires the participation of governments, civil servants, professionals from multidisciplinary backgrounds, and citizens to work together in combating human trafficking.
[1] DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking. (2021). Countering Human Trafficking: Year in Review.
[2] The TIP Report standard for the elimination of trafficking follows the Trafficking Victims Protection Act guidelines.
Human Trafficking in Southeast Asia & The Role of Digital Technology
This year’s Trafficking in Persons Report explores the influence and impacts of digital technology on Human Trafficking. Victims no longer need to be transported, lured across borders, physically present, or even leave their homes for the crimes of human trafficking to occur. Since COVID-19, trends have indicated an increase in victimisation and exploitation through online channels such as social media, online advertisements, websites, dating apps, and gaming platforms. Traffickers have exploited the heightened use of online presence by using technology to recruit, control, market, and exploit vulnerable individuals while avoiding detection for harmful acts such as selling children online for sex and posting false advertisements to traffick individuals for online scam operations.
In Southeast Asia, crimes related to forced scamming, the online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC), and the demand and distribution of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) are a growing concern. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 1 in 3 internet users around the globe is a child, and in Southeast Asia, these children (6-14 years old) spend approximately 2.77 hours a day in front of a screen. Across the Asia-Pacific, reports of abuse through online platforms show disturbing trends. From 2019 to 2022, Thailand reported close to 2 million cases, while countries like Malaysia reported a total of 850,000 abuse cases, Laos with 25,000 reports, Vietnam with almost 3 million reports, and Philippines with eight million reports that had an online component.
While traditional forms of human trafficking, such as the sex trafficking of children and individuals continue to occur in Thai brothels, massage parlours, bars, karaoke lounges, hotels, and private residences, the exploitation of victims for explicit images and the trafficking of children for commercial sex through online videos, live streams, and photos is also prevalent in the country.
Based on 116 of LIFT’s cases over the past five years, the increase of online victimisation is evident in LIFT International’s work. Human trafficking cases involving an online component only made up approximately 19% of LIFT’s caseload pre-pandemic in 2019. During the pandemic, human trafficking did not slow down as 59.7% of LIFT’s caseload had an online component in 2020. While LIFT International’s caseload shows a continual increase of traditional methods of human trafficking from 44.4% in 2021 to 79.1% in 2022, and 87.1% in 2023, human trafficking cases with an online component continues to be present despite the world going back to its normal activities post pandemic.
In addition, LIFT International’s caseload reflects the impacts of COVID-19 in the increased commonality of online recruitment for the purposes of human trafficking. Prior to 2020, 25% of LIFT’s caseload involved a form of human trafficking where the victimisation began online. In 2020, online recruitment for human trafficking among LIFT’s caseload surged to 53.4%. The prevalence of online recruitment is still evident today as 12.9% of LIFT’s caseload indicated a situation where the victimisation first began online.
This suggests that while human trafficking can take on various forms, online means continues to be a common method for victims to be recruited into human trafficking schemes. Moreover,out of 18 cases in 2023, the average age of victims among LIFT’s caseload was 12 years old. Hence, as digital technology becomes more normalised and increasingly integrated into the lives of our children, it is imperative that we work together to prevent and protect those most vulnerable to the harmful impacts of digital technology.
The Role of Nonprofits and Technology
The landscape of human trafficking is constantly changing. According to this year’s Trafficking in Persons Report, the incrementing role of technology in facilitating exploitation has brought forth new challenges in anti-human trafficking work. Some of these challenges include difficulty in tracing the offender due to loose regulations of online platforms, continuous developments of new technology that can lead to potential harms such as AI-generated sexual abuse, to the complexities of coordination among anti-trafficking stakeholders and technology experts from different jurisdictions, and the need to train law enforcement in regards on how to use technology effectively to counter human trafficking.
The Trafficking in Persons Report emphasises on the significant roles of Non-Profit Organisations (NGOs) in combating the challenges associated with human trafficking, commending them as the primary drivers of developing anti-trafficking technological tools and programmes, and being well position to partner with technology companies, governments, survivors, and community organisations to enhance the creation and broaden the use of essential anti-trafficking application services. As a non-profit organisation, LIFT International commits to taking a role in combating the facilitation of digital technology in the exploitation of individuals and children.
LIFT International’s Work & Partnership in the Digital Space
LIFT International continues to utilise technology in the eradication of human trafficking. This past year, the organisation hosted workshops, such as an Online Investigation Training, to support Thai law enforcement in the equipping of their officers in relation to online investigations. LIFT shared their expertise, particularly in topics such as online investigative techniques and training in methods of online open source information collection to help law enforcement deepen their expertise in combating online-related cases. Furthermore, LIFT continues to support law enforcement and relevant partners by using their expertise in forensic extractions, helping bring forth key evidence needed in the court process, ensuring justice for the victim.
Moreover, LIFT International also used digital technology to facilitate a prevention campaign against human trafficking. The campaign, called Human Trafficking Dialogue with Youth, engaged youth in Thailand and Europe, raising their awareness on the trends and impacts of human trafficking in the country.
The use of technological tools for positive impact has also been incorporated into LIFT’s casework. The organisation’s legal and social work teams have partnered with case prosecutors to implement an E-Hearing system, which is an internationally recognized method for conducting testimonials and hearing procedures through audio and video transmission. Integrating this tool into LIFT’s casework has brought significant benefits to both survivors and the court process. It has reduced the likelihood of direct confrontations between survivors and their abusers, minimising the risk of retraumatization. At the same time, it ensures that the judge gains a comprehensive and credible understanding of the case, suitable for court proceedings.
What You Can Do
The normalisation of digital technology in our global community necessitates the need to apply technological tools and developments alongside existing methods to counter the exploitative use of technology in human trafficking. LIFT International is committed to optimising our technological tools and digital expertise to assist in the identification, protection, prosecution, and prevention of human trafficking cases. As we collaborate with various stakeholders to LIFT survivors, LIFT standards, and LIFT justice, we encourage you as a global citizen to partner with us in this fight through financial support, prayer, and the sharing of online safety with those in your community. Below are resources and ways you can take action towards a world free of online sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Join Us Towards A Safer World
1.Change Starts with Awareness
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) launched a new campaign called "Beware the Share" to prevent online sexual exploitation. Share this campaign within your community to raise awareness about the risks, how online sexual exploitation occurs, and how to protect yourself and your loved ones.
2. Report a Crime
If you need to report a crime, please contact these hotlines:
Thailand: 1191 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division
Global: Cyber Tip Report by NCMEC
3. Support the Fight Against Exploitation
Your financial contributions play a crucial role in our efforts to eradicate human trafficking and the online sexual exploitation of children. LIFT International uses your generous support to advance our work in identification, protection, prosecution, and prevention. Join us in the fight for justice.