Understanding Migrant Vulernability to Trafficking and COVID-19 in Northern Thailand

Abstract
The Freedom Story has been working to prevent child trafficking in Northern Thailand for 13 years, with projects in Chiang Rai and Nan provinces in Thailand, both rural trafficking hotspots with high rates of poverty, low levels of education, and social isolation (including issues such as family breakdown, child abuse, and statelessness). This partnership with HTRI has allowed us to develop relationships with researchers to support The Freedom Story’s research agenda. These efforts will build on annual surveys and research implemented for the past three years by The Freedom Story to monitor knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to trafficking and the risk of trafficking among the organization’s target populations. This includes research conducted to understand the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations, including migrant workers who are also vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking.

Key factors
migration, other health interventions, attitudes toward forced labor

Key outcomes
working conditions, social norms, social norms and attitudes towards forced labour