The 27th Myanmar-Thailand Case Management Meeting on Repatriation and Reintegration of Victims of Human Trafficking was held in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security at the Park Royal Hotel, Yangon yesterday. It was hosted by Myanmar.
Present on the occasion were Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Thet Thet Khine, Permanent Secretary Dr Ko Ko Naing, Director-General U Aung Kyaw Moe of the Department of Rehabilitation and 30 Myanmar delegation members, and 15 members of the Thai delegation led by Mr Thanasunthorn Sawangsalee, Deputy Permanent Secretary, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand.
At the meeting, Union Minister Dr Thet Thet Khine pointed out that 70 per cent of the victims of human trafficking are women and children, and the number of male victims in human trafficking has also increased significantly, according to the rising cases of human trafficking in various countries. Both Myanmar and Thailand have been able to jointly promote the best interests of the victims of human trafficking in keeping with processes of the standard work plan approved by the two countries, she added. The Union minister thanked Thailand for keeping victims of human trafficking and job placement for them, as well.
Afterwards, Deputy Permanent Secretary Mr Thanasunthorn Sawangsalee said that it has been over 10 years that Myanmar and Thailand have been working together as model countries to combat human trafficking, and gets many benefits and experiences. The deputy permanent secretary also expressed willingness to continue the cooperation because human trafficking has become a big challenge for those doing anti-trafficking work.
Then, Director-General U Aung Kyaw Moe and Deputy Permanent Secretary Mr Thanasunthorn Sawangsalee continued to hold the meeting and conferred about issues such as protecting Myanmar victims of human trafficking located in Thailand and ensuring their full rights and entitlements for the two countries to cooperate. — MNA/CT
