U.S. report fails to reflect Thailand's anti-human trafficking efforts: ministry

A United States report on human trafficking, which maintains Thailand in Tier 3, the lowest ranking, for the second consecutive year, does not accurately reflect the efforts made by the kingdom, the Thai Foreign Ministry said Monday.

The Thai government "does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, and is not making significant efforts to do so," said the Trafficking in Persons Report 2015 released by the U.S. government earlier in the day.

Thailand investigated and prosecuted some cases against corrupt officials involved in trafficking but trafficking-related corruption continued to impede progress in combating trafficking, the report said.

Thailand takes note of such an evaluation but believes that the placement of Thailand in Tier 3 "does not accurately reflect the significant efforts undertaken by the government and its partnership with private sector and civil society in making the tangible progress that has occurred on all fronts in the previous year," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The government has declared combating trafficking in persons a national priority, and revised and enacted several laws and regulations including the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, according to the statement that enumerated policies and actions made by the Thai authorities.

Relevant agencies intensified their efforts, which led to the crackdowns of trafficking syndicates as well as many arrests and punishments of high-ranking officials complicit in human trafficking, it said.

The ministry also stressed, however, that "Thailand will continue to do its utmost to overcome the remaining challenges, while also promoting security and upholding our long and distinguished tradition of adherence to humanitarianism." Endi