Ambassador hosted a working lunch on Trafficking in Human Beings

On 27 October 2023, Ambassador Arunrung Phothong Humphreys hosted a working lunch for Ms. Janna Davidson, National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings, National Operations Department, Police Department Centre Stockholm and Ms. Panadda Changmanee, Project Manager, Thai Women in Sweden Empowerment Project (ThaiWISE). Also in attendance were representatives from the Royal Thai Embassy in Stockholm, ThaiWISE and Polisen.

Ambassador Arunrung reiterated the Embassy’s commitment to preventing Thais in Sweden from falling victims of human trafficking, especially Thai women working in massage salons and Thai berry pickers in Sweden. The Ambassador also informed Polisen of the Embassy’s work in this regard. This includes, for example, cooperation with ThaiWISE to develop standards for ethical Thai massage business in Sweden, which has already been successful in Malmö and is being replicated in Stockholm, and protection of Thai berry pickers by giving them necessary information during their pre-departure orientation, camp visits while in Sweden and liaising with concerned authorities to address their complaints.

ThaiWISE exchanged their experiences on the ground on how they have long assisted Thais in Sweden, including the project to develop ethical Thai massage business, addressing domestic violence and protection of Thai berry pickers.The Embassy appreciates Polisen’s readiness to work closely together with us and ThaiWISE to better protect Thai nationals in Sweden.