Needs and responses

Vulnerable groups

Many women and girls from the countries surrounding Thailand (Burma, Cambodia, and Laos) are trafficked into or through Thailand each year. Many of these victims end up working in the commercial sex industry. Most are recruited by agents who promise employment opportunities in Thailand, but they instead find themselves sold to brothels where they are physically and/or financially (through the use of debt) trapped. Women and children in the refugee population are particularly vulnerable. As there is little formal rights protection for the Burmese refugees in particular, many of whom also work illegally in Thailand, women and children belonging to the refugee population are also exposed to the risk of sexual harassment and labour exploitation.

Websites:

UNHCR Map: Myanmar-Thailand border, refugee population by gender http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home/opendoc.pdf?tbl=MEDIA&id=3da150087&page=publ

UNHCR Map: Myanmar-Thailand border, age distribution of refugee population http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home/opendoc.pdf?tbl=MEDIA&id=3da14e6c4&page=publ

Child Rights ASIANET http://www.chula.ac.th/international/child.html

International and governmental organizations

International Rescue Committee http://www.theirc.org/

Jesuit Refugee Service http://www.jrs.net/

NGOs

Asian Cultural Forum on Development (ACFOD) http://ksc11.th.com/acfodbkk/

Asian Research Center for Migration (ARCM) http://www.chula.ac.th/INSTITUTE/ARCM/main.htm

Catholic Commission on Migration - Women's Desk http://www.skyinet.net/~smc/dirthail.htm#ccm

EMPOWER http://www.empowerwomen.org/

Foundation for Women (FFW) http://www.foundationforwomen.org

Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) http://www.inet.co.th/org/gaatw/

National Catholic Commission on Migration http://www.skyinet.net/~smc/dirthail.htm#nccm

Sathirakoses-Nagapradeepa Foundation http://www.sulak-sivaraksa.org/