With offices in Thailand, Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam, UNIAP is committed to building a united front on human trafficking, and taking action based on the needs of each country. UNIAP Thailand works in four core areas: Building the Knowledge Base on Human Trafficking; Supporting Action on High Priority Areas; Targeted Interventions that Respond to Identified Gaps; and Strengthening Advocacy on the Issue of Human Trafficking.

UNIAP is unique because it works as a coordinating body and service provider to facilitate successful responses by its partners, rather than implementing programs itself. Our approach in supporting and initiating programs and then stepping back as our partners take them forward, ensures that full-scale responses to trafficking are implemented by those best placed to do so.

As a service provider, UNIAP Thailand provides a platform for action on trafficking. We facilitate closer, more effective working relationships, and act as a catalyst for these relationships to translate into action:

Building the Knowledge Base on Human Trafficking

UNIAP Thailand works as a clearing house for information on human trafficking and a center for knowledge building. We work together with partners in Thailand to share information, identify gaps and key priorities, and develop interventions. UNIAP Thailand is currently supporting knowledge building by consolidating lessons learned and good practices developed from different sectors; facilitating the development of a national public resource library on human trafficking and migration issues at the Pridi Bhanomyong Library, Thammasart University; acting as an information clearing house on all trafficking initiatives in Thailand; developing information kits trafficking and translating key documents from English to Thai and vice versa; and disseminating information on trafficking in Thai and English languages through a national email network and quarterly Thai language newsletter, for increased outreach to all stakeholders in Thailand.

Supported Action on High Priority Issues

UNIAP Thailand advocates for quick responses to new and emerging issues through technical working committees on high priority topics such as begging, lends technical support to government ministries and agencies to assist in the implementation of trafficking-related projects and policies; supports capacity-building at all levels - for example, providing training for NGO staff and local authorities; and helping to identify and fill sectoral or geographical gaps in the existing responses through the development of databases and the mapping of local and regional initiatives.

Targeted Interventions that respond to identified gaps

UNIAP Thailand provides an opportunity to try new approaches through initiating research and supporting programs not being addressed by others. UNIAP supports NGOs such as the Mirror Art Group to conduct action research on Cambodian beggars, which resulted in a concept paper. The paper has become an effective policy advocacy tool for raising the issue with both the Thai and Cambodian Governments.

Strengthening Advocacy on the Issue of Human Trafficking

UNIAP Thailand adopts the strategy of developing and maintaining partnerships with other actors in Thailand who are working on the issue of trafficking. These partnerships facilitate a faster and more coordinated response to trafficking, and create a collaborative network with an extraordinary pool of knowledge and skills to combat trafficking. UNIAP Thailand supports the establishment of Ban Huay Krai School Community Radio Network. This network is a center for human trafficking literacy for people in the northern part of Thailand and has been noted for being popularly received among the local population.