Child Trafficking in Thailand Target of Labor Department
Grant to Faith-Based Group

Project Designed to Counter Sexual Exploitation of Girls

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced today a $703,000 grant to the International Justice Mission (IJM) to conduct a program to combat child trafficking and sexual exploitation of girls in Thailand.

“Our collaboration with the International Justice Mission on this project is a good working example of the effectiveness and efficiency of public-private partnerships with faith-based and community organizations to provide international assistance on such pressing issues as the sexual exploitation of children,” Chao said.

The three-year project will work to eliminate the trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of girls in northern Thailand through a comprehensive, replicable strategy that includes prevention, removal and rehabilitation activities. The trafficking of children for commercial sexual exploitation is considered to be one of the worst forms of child labor. It is reported that as many as 300,000 women and girls are trafficking into Thailand to be exploited in the commercial sex trade each year.

The International Justice Mission, a faith-based organization founded in 1994, has an established field presence and an extensive international network of ministries and human rights organizations working on the issues of trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor abuse. This network allows IJM to investigate and document illegal labor abuses, and provide quality social services to victims of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Thus far, IJM has successfully documented more than 1,300 cases of abusive labor and secured the removal of 900 victims of illegal labor practices, including 300 victims of sex trafficking. In addition to providing services to victims of sex trafficking, IJM works to provide training to local law enforcement authorities to enforce anti-trafficking laws and helps aftercare providers build their capacity to secure access to effective rehabilitation for victims of exploitative labor.

The Labor Department’s (DOL) Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) is responsible for monitoring and oversight of all department-funded international child labor projects. Since 1995, ILAB has administered approximately $195 million for technical assistance programs designed to combat and prevent abusive child labor around the world. More information about this project and other DOL-funded child labor efforts, can be obtained from the International Child Labor Program, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-5307, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-4843; Fax (202) 693-4830; E-mail: GlobalKids@dol.gov.

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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.