In 2007, UT’s Students of the World (SOW) worked in northern Thailand to document causes and solutions to Thai and Burmese-Thai migration. There are many people near the Thai-Burmese border who lack Thai citizenship even though they were born in Thailand. When the Thai government was registering citizens in the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s, many in the Hill Tribes of the north (so called because they are located in the mountains of northern Thailand) were either passed over or unable to provide proof of residency.
This is complicated by the influx of Burmese into the region. There are many reasons Burmese leave their country, especially the repressive military government and wages potentially two to four times higher. Lacking any legal identification once in Thailand, they become very vulnerable.
Both of these groups are often targeted by traffickers, who promise transport across whatever borders to a good job for a (hefty) fee. After they are in the trafficker’s custody, victims are often powerless to direct where they will go, and many are passed into slave-like conditions. Their children, however, are often left behind to fend for themselves.
The Thai government and many NGO’s are working tirelessly to improve conditions, access to citizenship, and prosecution of traffickers. SOW filmed three groups’ efforts to combat trafficking and use the footage to educate about trafficking and to promote the efforts of these organizations.
