The Two Faces of Thailand; Child Trafficking for the Sex Trade in Thailand

Thailand

What springs to mind when someone mentions Thailand?

Beautiful beaches, clear waters, stunning temples with almost unbelievable architecture?

For me, the thought of Thailand conjures up a very different image.

The modern face of Thailand

A vast country, with once proud roots, I was inspired to use Thailand as a location for my latest novel. Titled Caught in Traffick, the book centres on the complex and dangerous world of child sex trafficking in Thailand. I chose Thailand, due to its reputation as a sink hole of depravity. A reputation, which in my opinion, is well-deserved.

Human Trafficking – An Overview

The trafficking of human beings is not a new problem. It dates back many millennia and continues to grow at an alarming level. Trafficking takes many forms; adults are trafficked for many reasons, including; the sex trade, forced labour, illegal organ donation, forced marriage, debt bondage, and domestic servitude.

Girls who are little more than children are sold into the sex trade

Children are trafficked for the child sex trade, forced labour and illegal adoptions. They are also recruited and forced to serve in lesser known schemes, such as illicit sports and gambling activities. Children are also recruited for children’s armies where, amongst other things, they serve as dispensable suicide bombers. Unbelievable but true.

A young girl recruited into someone's personal army

Conservative estimates put the figure of adults and children currently enslaved by human trafficking at an astonishing 29 million; 27% of this number are children.  Human trafficking has now surpassed the sale of illegal arms in terms of criminal activity, and is a growing international problem surpassed only by the drug trade. It is big business for those involved, generating over $10 billion in illegal revenue. The laws currently in place to protect victims are numerous and complex. Statistic vary, but it is agreed that few perpetrators are brought to justice. A 2007 US State Department report put the figure at approximately 1 in 800 people.

Child Sex Trafficking in Thailand

While I am aware that children are sexually exploited the world over; there are few places on earth that they are more vulnerable and less protected by their own Government than in Thailand.

Young girls on the street approached by a punter

The children’s charity The Sold Project estimates that there are around 60,000 children involved in the commercial sex trade in Thailand*.

Girls outside a sex club await "clients"

Thailand’s reputation as a place where one can go and indulge in sexual activity with children with little chance of redress, makes it a magnet for paedophiles.  Those responsible for supplying these depraved men (or women) with their wretched victims are well-organised, cunning and arrogant. Safe in the knowledge that to avoid prosecution, all that is required is a well-placed bribe; they continue their heinous trade unchecked and unchallenged. The children come from a variety of sources. Poor local families who have debts, which they can never hope to repay, are often forced to sell their children to these gangs. Other parents believe that their children are going to a better life, with an education or a job prospect. This is almost never the case.

The streets teem with sex workers

Less common, is the abduction of children who are then forced into prostitution. Some of these children are those of holiday makers, and while rare, it does happen. There are an average of seven non Thai children a year who are kidnapped in Thailand. Whether the children are locally sold, or dramatically abducted, a similar fate awaits them all.

A high percentage of the ill-fated children will be sold into prostitution and while prostitution is officially illegal in Thailand, it is estimated that the trade is worth around $6.4 billion per annum, making it an essential part of the Thai economy.

Bright lights and sex workers

Many children will die in service to the gangs who own them. Many contract sexually transmitted diseases, which are not treated. Others will die from botched abortions, while some will die from violence at the hands of their captors or clients.  Many children are simply thrown out on the streets once they have outlived their usefulness. Unable to survive alone, they soon succumb to hunger, cold and illness.

Government Response

Corruption and organised crime undermine even the best anti-trafficking efforts; so, why don’t the Government and the police do something about it?

Sex worker being questioned

Consider that at the time of writing, the average police officer in Thailand earns approximately £163 per MONTH at entry level, rising to only £350 a month for a more senior officer. In addition, they have to buy their own uniform, guns, and even bullets! It is small wonder they lack motivation, and have a reputation for being corrupt and easy to bribe.

Pattaya Police Station

A 2008 article in The Economist noted;

 “In Thailand’s most sensational crimes, the prime suspects are often the police”.

Some efforts have been made;

In 2015, the Government brought charges against 34 officials, including those in mid to high posts. The Government also investigated five cases where officials accepted bribes. It is a start, but it is nowhere near enough.

The Government’s efforts to protect potential victims of trafficking are inadequate. In 2015, 720 people were identified as at risk from trafficking. This in a country where tens of thousands of people are trafficked; it is a drop in the ocean. One of the main problems is the sheer volume of people pouring into Thailand from such a wide diversity of other countries. With migrants from Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma, China, North Korea, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Russia, The United States and the United Kingdom, it is small wonder that the screening process is ineffectual and failing those most in need of help.

Soldiers patrolling the borders

Smuggling/trafficking camps have been identified on many parts of the Thai border, but given the sheer size of Thailand’s borders; patrolling them effectively, is akin to holding back the tide. Many victims are brought in by sea; with this in mind, the Government do raid fishing boats on a regular basis, but again, it is pathetically insufficient.

Police raiding a fishing boat with slave labour aboard

The Government has few effective resources in relation to dealing with trafficked children. Often separated from their parents in being smuggled over the borders, the children can face years in a holding centre, or deportation. Those unlucky enough to fall into the hands of traffickers can expect to be sold into the sex trade or other labour based slavery.  The Thai police do seem to have maintained an effective cooperation with international law enforcement when child sex cases involve foreign perpetrators. However, the Government fall woefully short of providing a safe environment for the children to give evidence. Often, they are forced to testify in front of the alleged perpetrators, and have to give their personal details, which leaves them and their families open to retribution and retaliation from the gangs.

Vulnerable children are put at risk by having to testify in front of the perpetrators

In terms of prevention, the Government refused entry to over 500 known sex offenders in 2015, compared to only 98 the previous year. In that at least, a modicum of progress was made. They also organised some training for officials and those in the tourist industry in relation to child trafficking and its prevention. The Government also report having a surveillance agency of trained operatives who are placed in high risk areas of child sex trafficking, and who supposedly report to the police. However, as we have already seen, corruption is such, that for a few hundred baht, many crimes will go unchallenged and unpunished.  

Government anti-trafficking advert

From the above, we can see that the Thai Government are making a few efforts to bring perpetrators to justice, but their efforts continue to be hampered by gangs of organised crime. Thailand was at one time on the lowest tier, imposed by the US Government – tier 3 – in relation to the efforts it was making in relation to human trafficking. Tier 3 status could trigger non-trade related sanctions and is viewed as very serious. In 2016, the US Government lifted the tier 3 rating, lifting it to tier 2. This was met with protests from Human Rights groups, who say the action was politically motivated and did nothing to address the issues of trafficking, which is still rife, especially in the fishing and sex industries.

Caught in Traffick – The Novel

It is against this backdrop of corruption and perversion that my novel Caught in Traffick is set.

The book is the sequel to my best selling debut book, Known to Social Services, and sees the main character, social worker Diane Foster caught up in a complex and frightening web of criminal exploitation of the worst kind. 

Book Festival Section winner and prequel to Caught in Traffic, my debut book, Known to Social Services

Focusing mainly on the kidnap of two European children, Caught in Traffick aims to highlight the issue of child trafficking for the sex trade. I also draw attention to the marked differences between the abduction of European children and the ensuing media drama, against the almost unacknowledged disappearance of local children, who elicit an apathetic response.

For research purposes, I read extensively and spoke to people who work in anti-trafficking organisations. Their insight was invaluable. The Internet is of course a mine of information and I found dozens of useful websites. From children's charities, who are dedicated to the eradication of child trafficking, to UK Government Agencies who combat the problem from a criminal perspective; all went towards building the picture and helped with the emerging storyline. 

As a qualified child protection social worker I am more than aware of the issues which are faced by many of the world’s children. While Caught in Traffick is a novel, I am acutely aware that this is an all too horrifically real issue for tens of thousands of children. It is my heartfelt hope that through the medium of writing, I can bring some additional attention and action to this hideous practice.

Caught in Traffick is available from Amazon in paperback or Kindle format;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Caught-Traffick-Freya-Barrington-ebook/dp/B01L80IVJM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1477746177&sr=1-1&keywords=caught+in+traffick

*https://www.thesoldproject.com/child-human-trafficking-thailand/

**http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2016/258876.htm

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Freya

New Novel Now Available

I am absolutely THRILLED to announce that my long awaited novel CAUGHT IN TRAFFICK is now available from Amazon and other outlets as a paperback and a download. Please follow the link below;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Caught-Traffick-Freya-Barrington-ebook/dp/B01L80IVJM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472539404&sr=8-1&keywords=caught+in+traffick

The sequel to my debut book Known to Social Services, Caught in Traffick picks up the story of Diane Foster; the social worker who was unfairly vilified for the death of a baby on her caseload. Diane is with her partner Ethan Montana in Thailand on a working holiday when they unwittingly become entangled in a complex and ruthless network of organised crime and child trafficking, which stretches from Bangkok to Pattaya.

The terrifying experiences of the children, and those striving to secure their liberty, provides a gripping and startlingly disturbing glimpse into the world of child trafficking.

Thousands of children worldwide are sold, kidnapped or simply given into the harrowing and frightening world of child trafficking, from which few escape. I wrote Caught in Traffick in the hope that the book will raise awareness and perhaps even challenge people’s views on this most heinous issue.

Thank you for the ongoing support.

www.freyabarrington.com

www.freyabarrington.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/freyabarrington

Twitter: @freyabarrington

Freya

Book Information

In Freya Barrington's previous book, 'Known to Social Services', Freya Barrington gave us a frighteningly realistic insight into the harrowing world of the child protection social worker. Based on her own experiences, the book was a revelation and occupied the number one spot for social work books on Amazon UK within weeks of release and went on to win the autobiography/biography/memoir section of the 2015 London Book Festival and received an Honourable Mention at the 2016 Paris Book Festival. 

'Caught in Traffick' is the sequel to 'Known to Social Services', and continues the story of social worker Diane Foster. Set mainly in Thailand; Diane and her partner Ethan are on a working holiday, blissfully unaware of the dangers lurking against the beautiful backdrop of white beaches and glorious monuments. When four-year-old Darcie Taylor is abducted from a crowded beach, Diane and Ethan find themselves sucked into the horrifying world of child trafficking. When Darcie’s abduction is followed closely by the kidnap of another child, there can be no doubt that a well co-ordinated gang is operating in the area. 

A chance meeting with the Director of Social Services Nicholas Bishop leads to a shocking revelation about the man who is still Diane’s most senior manager. Together, they become embroiled in a dangerous web of subterfuge and corruption, where organised crime syndicates and depraved sex offenders engage in a desperate battle of wits against those dedicated to their downfall. Trapped within this labyrinth of immorality are the children, who are sacrificed on the altar of greed and perversion for financial gain. With the gang’s tentacles reaching across to England, Diane is shocked to find herself faced with some old adversaries. With gripping twists and turns, hair-raising rescue attempts and heart breaking tragedies which leave you in despair; 'Caught in Traffick' will open your eyes to the disturbing underground world of child trafficking.

A Taste of Things to Come; a sneaky peek at the first chapter of my forthcoming novel Caught in Traffick

The time fast approaches for the release of my latest novel, Caught in Traffick. While we wait, I thought you might like to get a taste of what’s to come in this fast moving and gripping story of child trafficking in Thailand. Here is a tiny glimpse into Chapter One.

****

The beach at Jomtien, was crowded with tourists doing what tourists do. They sunbathed, swam, drank cocktails, and played with their children on the fine white sands. Screams and shouts of laughter emanated from the banana boats out on the Gulf of Thailand, filled with willing passengers who had paid for the dubious pleasure of being flung off into the warm blue ocean. A string of ponies, sweated in the hot February sun, carrying their cargo of small, equally hot children. No one paid any attention to the old man in the wheelchair, whose feeble demeanour was a signpost of his advanced years. He was simply an old man of no account who had been pushed into a shady spot by his nurse, to enjoy the warmth of the late morning sun. He wore a large straw hat, which obscured his face. Underneath the hat however, the Old Man’s deep set eyes were keen and searching, and the unsuspecting people on the beach could not have guessed the sinister purpose of his presence. Their indifference would be costly, for the Old Man had played this game many times before and was as sharp as he was cunning. 

The Old Man observed the tableau, which played out before him; with his shrewd eye for detail, he already knew where all the main players were situated. He knew the beach well, and had already committed many details of today’s particular scenario to memory. It was with good reason that the Old Man was known to the people who sought him out, as “The Watcher.”

He watched the fishing boats go by as they made their way back to the fishing ports. He watched the waiters making cocktails behind the gaily decorated bars, he watched two lovers kissing on the white sands, mistaken in the notion that they were hidden from view by the garish umbrellas. He watched the hippie types who still came to the area to smoke a little dope, get high and remember the good old days. He watched the parents; but most of all, as a hawk watches its prey, he watched the children.  His seasoned eye was drawn to one family in particular. Two parents with two young children, a blonde haired girl wearing an eye catching pink and white polka dot swimsuit, and a younger boy. Their father was swimming in the sea, leaving mother tending to both children. The Old Man watched and waited, knowing that the opportunity would arise as it always did. It had been over six months since the Old Man had been out hunting like this, and he felt his pulse quicken in anticipation. He had travelled with special purpose from his home in Bangkok, with one thing in mind and now he had it in his sights.

A woman approached from his left hand side; she was a pretty young thing, dressed as a nurse; she attracted as little attention as the Old Man. She said nothing, but bent down to rearrange the blanket over his skinny legs. As she did so, she glanced up at him; “Soon” he whispered in an almost indiscernible voice, “It will be soon, stay close, and be ready.” The woman melted back into the crowds, but her sad eyes stayed constantly on the Old Man. She waited, as he waited; the sweat ran down her back in rivulets betraying the anxiety she felt at her situation.

The minutes ticked by.

Somewhere on the beach, a child cried out in pain. The woman did not turn her head to look; her eyes were fastened on the Old Man, knowing that this could be the moment. The Old Man had heard it of course, but unlike the woman, he fixed his gaze on the unfolding drama on the beach like a hawk on a mouse. The boy had wandered off and fallen; the mother turned, spoke briefly to the girl, and ran to her son. People instinctively turned their heads in the direction of the crying boy, some continued to watch as his mother comforted him, some smiled in sympathy, and no one, but no one had eyes on the girl; no one that is apart from Ruang Sak Yunram. 

****

I hope that has whetted your appetite J

The book is the sequel to my first book Known to Social Services and should be released very soon, possibly before the end of August, but no promises. Caught in Traffick will be available from Amazon as a paperback and a download. It will also be available from certain book stores.

I will of course keep you posted, but you can sign up to follow my blog direct at;

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Freya

Who are You to Judge? The Importance of Recording and Evidence Based Assessments.

Jane’s words rang in my ears; her wonderful Scottish brogue seemed to give more weight to her sound advice. “Write. It. Down” she said firmly, enunciating every word. Jane was my tutor in University, and was talking to me in a 1:1 tutorial about the importance of recording in social work. Her words made an impression, which remain with me to this day.  Such was her emphasis on the subject, that once qualified and working, I became almost obsessed with making sure that I, 
Wrote. 
It. 
Down.  
Jane was not wrong; accurate recording is absolutely fundamental to the task of social work.

I was a social worker back in the day before computers made the job of recording less laborious. How well I recall staying in the office after a lengthy or difficult visit, which had to be written up by hand, before I went home, while the information was fresh in my mind. I wasn’t alone; there would often be three or four of us, hunched over our desks, scribbling furiously, and wishing our hands didn’t ache quite so much.  If I felt like skimping the task, Jane’s words would resound once again, and I would redouble my efforts.

Jane was equally emphatic about the importance of accuracy. “If it goes to court” she cautioned, “You’d better be sure you’ve recorded it accurately”. This advice was to stand me in good stead many times. I recall one occasion where I was cross-examined in Crown Court by a particularly intense barrister who seemed determined to discredit my account of events of the case in question. At one point, he asked me how I could be so sure of my recollection of events, which were written up in the court report. I answered simply and honestly, “Because I recorded it accurately at the time”. He raised a sardonic eyebrow and questioned me again, “You mean to tell me that at the time of speaking to this mother, you managed to make detailed notes”. To me, it seemed obvious, “Yes” I replied. He paused for effect, “And where, may I ask are these marvellous notes now?” he enquired with an edge of sarcasm. I pointed to the desk where the Local Authority solicitor was sat; “Right there” I said indicating my original notebook from the day in question.

The judge leaned forwards and gestured, “I’ll have those please,” he said immediately, and they were duly admitted as evidence. Sure enough, on the day in question, I had followed Jane’s advice. I had Written. It Down. Chapter and verse; it was all there, dated, signed, and accurate. The judge read the notes in silence. Then, he turned to the barrister and declared, “Seems clear to me” and that, was in effect, that.

When contemplating poor recording, I think about a case where I was required to write an independent assessment concerning a little boy of four who had been taken into the care of the Local Authority, and whose aunt wished to assume care for him. The social worker in charge of the case, was, like many of her colleagues, overworked, tired and stressed. As well as reading all the files, and speaking to all the professionals involved, I discussed the case with the social worker in order to glean as much first-hand information as possible. As we talked, she recalled several meetings where the child’s aunt had been aggressive, confrontational and on one occasion, downright violent, attacking the social worker in the foyer of the building. I asked the social worker if she could possibly direct me to the case notes in regard to these incidents, as they would need to form part of my assessment. She told me that she had never had time to record the meetings and incidents, some of which had happened more than a month previously. Seeing my stunned reaction to this, the social worker told me that she “Had it all in her head”. This did nothing to alleviate my concern. Here we had a family member who was potentially wholly unsuitable for the task of caring for this child, but her violence and aggression towards professionals had not been recorded and hearsay does not stand up in court. Write. It. Down.

One of the most elemental skills for any social worker is the ability to initiate an accurate assessment of a given situation. Undertaking solid, research based, evidential assessments, is a core activity for any social worker. Good quality assessments are THE essential tool in substantiating and informing the decision making process within social work.

Assessments are usually context specific and may comprise of a variety of theoretical approaches. However, all assessments share a common factor in that they all require the gathering of information. In a situation of immediate risk to a child, an assessment needs to be made quickly based on the available information. However, more often than not, assessments are time consuming, and can take many weeks or even months to complete.  Social workers are not only concerned with gathering information; they must also analyse and evaluate what information is relevant and more importantly, what is valid and accurate, which is a skill in itself.

The role of the child protection social worker is complex; Parents can become defensive and hostile in their efforts to protect their privacy and, given the nature of the job, the information offered to social workers by parents may not necessarily be exact. Parents who feel they are “under the microscope” can understandably feel anxious, and, in their efforts to avoid further involvement from social services, may volunteer information, which is not accurate.  Parents may minimise a given situation in order to downplay the social worker’s concerns, or more worryingly, may offer information, which is totally fabricated and intended to deceive.

Gathering information for an assessment can be intrusive and uncomfortable for all concerned. The skill of the social worker must lie in their ability to interpret what is factual and relevant in an often highly complex plethora of information. They must then organise this information into a comprehensible assessment, which addresses the salient points, highlights any areas of risk to the children concerned, and most importantly must offer recommendations as to how to make and maintain positive changes.

Within this process, social workers are often accused of being judgmental. While it is hoped that we would strive to avoid adopting an autocratic or superior attitude; making sound judgments is an essential part of any social worker’s role.

One dictionary definition of the word judgement is; 
The forming of an opinion, estimate, notion or conclusion from presenting circumstances.  

Another definition suggests that it is;
The ability to judge, make a decision, or form an objective opinion, wisely, especially in matters affecting action.

“Being judgmental” is therefore unavoidable if we are to be effective. When a social worker visits a family and begins an assessment, he or she is, essentially being paid for their judgement about the situation. When the social worker discusses the case with their manager, that manager then makes further decisions based on the judgement of the social worker.

Social work judgments are based on the assessment of a given situation, it is therefore essential that our skills in this area are regularly revised and enhanced.

While judgement of a situation is required, social workers must guard against falling into the trap of “value judgments”. For example, we might visit a home and report that it was “maintained to a high standard” – by whose standard are we measuring this? Alternatively, we might report, “the children were inappropriately dressed”; again, what is our baseline for quantifying this statement?

Statements such as these must be backed up with evidence if we are to avoid the accusation that we are being judgmental, which is where the evidence-based assessment is of such importance.  One Local Authority I worked for recently banned the use of the phrase, “Kicked off”, in assessments and daily logs, which I for one was more than happy about. It had become commonplace for social workers to report that children had “kicked off”, with no accompanying information as to what qualified as “kicking off”.  

Once completed, a social work assessment can be a crucially valuable tool. It may be used in court as the basis for the Local Authority’s case in Family Proceedings. As such, the importance of the evidence gathered by the social worker cannot be understated. Our resulting judgement, made as a result of all the relevant information, is at the heart of our role as child protection social workers.

So remember; Write. It. Down. You will not only help yourself, but others who may need to rely on your accuracy for other ongoing assessments or court hearings. 

Visit my website; www.freyabarrington.com

My bestselling book Known to Social Services is a fictionalised work, outlining the daily challenges faced in social work. Known to Social Services won the autobiography/biography/memoir section of the 2015 London Book Festival.

Coming Soon; my latest novel, titled Caught in Traffick is a novel about the harrowing world of child trafficking in Thailand. it is a sequel to Known to Social Services.

Freya