Usa Lerdsrisuntad Foundation for Women

Transcription

1 Usa Lerdsrisuntad Foundation for Women Current position: Programme Director of Foundation for Women and coordinator of project Protecting the rights of transnational migrant women and children. Education: Bachelor degree in Economics. Master degree in Human Rights Programme. Experiences: project staff of Women s Information officer, project staff of Home for Battered Women, Coordinator of Information Programme as part of the Weaving New Lives Project working on violence against women and children at community level. Project staff working with Thai and non-thai trafficked women and children. Abstract Shelters for Trafficked persons 18 December 2015 The presentation will cover experiences of Foundation for Women in running a shelter for trafficked and migrant women and children in Mae Sot and working with migrant in the immigration detention centers. The presentation will also discuss about the role of shelter and a result if working with legal framework and rights based approach. Although Thailand has adopted legislation for the prevention and suppression of human trafficking which is quite a good comprehensive law including the rights of trafficked persons to get compensation, the rights to work and include different forms of trafficking. However there are still gaps for trafficked persons to get access to legal and protection. According to the MOU for the treatment of trafficked persons, the role in victim identification is a responsibility of investigation police officers. After being identified, trafficked persons will be referred to Government protection centers and will receive psycho-social support, redress and compensation accordingly. In case of non-thai women and children, if they are not identified, they will be pushed back to the border. The presentation will discuss whether the identification process is friendly to victims and challenge criminal approach in working with trafficked persons. The role of shelters is crucial, as they do not only provide accommodation but also provide counseling and support to trafficked women and children to claim their rights and regain their self-determination.

2 Shelters for Trafficked persons

3 Shelters for Trafficked persons Usa Lerdsrisuntad Foundation for Women

4 Mae Sot Center for women and children Cases referred from IDC Bangkok Cases referred from IDC Mae Sot Cases referred from CBOs, NGOs, INGOs, community leaders and Volunteers Cased referred from Refugee camps

5 Working in the IDC Bangkok Trafficked persons Not trafficked Refer to Protection Center According to the MOU Push back to the borders

6 Working in the IDC Bangkok Trafficked persons Not trafficked Refer to Protection Center According to the MOU Push back to the border Vulnerable Group Unaccompanied children Young women who need help to return home

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8 Refer to Mae Sot Center or network in LAOS and Cambodia

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15 The role of shelters?? Accommodations Food Health Counseling healing activities Access to education Job training Preparing for safe return

16 The role of shelters Feel safe Relax Gain trust Empower Regained self determination Recover

17 Legal or Rights based approach?? use legal framework use rights based approach Receive cases after identification Social workers may fail to protect vulnerable groups Receive cases before identification Social workers empower migrant women and children to claim their rights

18 Conclusion Trafficked persons should get access to psycho social support even they do not participate in legal action. Access to shelters will enable the process of victim protection Victim identification should be conducted in a victim friendly approach