Ministry of Social Development and Human Security launched PROTECT-U

Following last year successful trial period, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security launched mobile application called “PROTECT-U” to provide an additional option for victims and whistleblowers to contact the authorities, supplementing current options such as hotline to contact the Thai National Police, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security’s hotline 1300. The application enables whistleblowers and victims to share their GPS location on Google Mapsaw well as also provides information regarding the rights of foreign workers working in Thailand in seven languages namely English, Cambodian, Burmese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Lao, and Thai. The application will also be used as an online store to sell products made by survivors and victims of human trafficking.

At the launch, Mr. Porametee Vimolsiri, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security stated that the next step for this application will be to develop a system that supports 4 languages which are Thai, Myanmese, Cambodian, and Laos with the focus on creating an online connection between interpreters and victims. One of the objectives of PROTECT-U is to create effective, quick, and easy to use options for victims to reach out for help.

Mr. Vimolsiri also revealed that the draft of the Royal Thai Government’s Country Report on Anti-Human Trafficking Efforts of 2019 both English and Thai Version is completed. The draft has been approved by Thailand inter-agencies Anti-Human Trafficking Committee and has been delivered to the Office of Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-Ocha. The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security believed that the draft will be submitted within the timeframe set by the U.S. Department of State. Any additional changes or information will be included in the next submission in March this year.