Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - September 2, 2003
Anjira Assavanonda
Speaking at a seminar for volunteer workers, Social Development and Welfare director-general Wallop Ploytabtim said research conducted by anti-trafficking networks had found most Thai women smuggled into Europe were originally from Nakhon Ratchasima.
Mr Wallop said the research had also found most Thai women trafficked into Japan were natives of Chiang Rai.
Foreign Ministry data showed Germany was the most popular destination for traffickers, with about 14,000 Thai women estimated to be living in the country unofficially.
Other popular European destinations were France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Britain.
Almost 6,000 of an estimated 33,000 Thai women living in Japan had overstayed their visas and were considered to be working illegally.
But regardless of where they wound up, most trafficked women suffered some form of sexual, physical or mental abuse.
Volunteer worker Prapairat Mix said most Thai women trafficked into Germany were aware they would be put to work in the sex trade, but were given a false impression of the conditions under which they would be forced to live.
"The work is abusive and the pay is always far less than initially agreed."
Nak Nakii said many women trafficked into Switzerland had contracted HIV/Aids after being forced to engage in sexual intercourse without condoms.
Others were abused after marrying citizens of the countries in which they were staying.
"One woman was beaten so badly she could not stand up," Ms Nak said. "She later jumped out of a building and is now disabled."
Nitaya Tanada said one 33-year-old woman she had tried to help in France died from blood poisoning after her husband gave her medication to terminate a pregnancy.
Social Development and Human Security Ministry assistant Veerasak Kowsurat said the cooperation of governments and NGOs would be required to ensure comprehensive assistance was provided to trafficked women.
"These women should be considered victims, whether or not they knowingly agreed to be trafficked abroad," he said.
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