Stateless and vulnerable to human trafficking in Thailand

While Thailand has committed itself to eliminating human trafficking, it remains an origin, source and transit state for human trafficking. One contributing factor, identified here, is the lack of citizenship for hundreds of thousands of hill tribe villagers. This prevents them from accessing state benefits like healthcare, education or travel permits to freely travel around Thailand. As a result, they become vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking. If trafficked, victims without proof of citizenship receive limited protection, little assistance and may be denied re-entry into Thailand. Improving access to citizenship would eliminate a significant factor contributing to human trafficking in Thailand. Key elements of improving access to citizenship would include the following:

• registering the birth of all children
• improving the transparency of the citizenship application process
• training local officials and people on the elements of the law and eliminating fees associated with the application process
• eliminating restrictions on travel, education, health care and employment for non-citizens during the application process.

Recommendations to reduce the impact of statelessness on the residents of Thailand include:

To the Thai Government

• eliminate requirement of proof of citizenship to internally and issue country-wide travel permits to children attending school
• permit those without proof of Thai citizenship to apply for special work permits that do not require them to provide proof of citizenship or to claim an alien status.

To NGOs

• lobby government officials to reduce the number of IDs in Thailand, and to improve the rights afforded under each ID
• support and supplement services that help residents become more employable.

To the International Community

• encourage the replacement of multiple ID cards for a simpler citizenship identification card system
• encourage universal education of children.

Recommendations that would simplify and clarify the application process to reduce the impact of statelessness on trafficking include:

To the Thai Government

• ratify the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Crime and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children
•  adopt the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Trafficking.

To NGOs

• lobby government officials for a more simplified and transparent citizenship application process
• instruct local leaders on the citizenship application process

To the International Community

• provide funding to the government and NGOs to support training of local government officials regarding the process of registration
• provide funding to the government and NGOs to support public awareness campaigns focused on training communities on the application process.