Welcome to the Thailand Rotary Action Group Against Slavery Team

Do you want to get involved in projects that will save the lives of children? Are you willing to put your heart and your skills into what may be the most heartbreaking and at the same time rewarding volunteer work you have ever encountered? Join Rotary, Join the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery and join our team!

Bangkok Anti-Trafficking Awareness Event 28 April 2024

Please join us!

Details:

The movie is complimentary and has Thai Subtitles คำบรรยายไทย. However, there are only 100 seats available. Registration is easy, just click here or send an email to treasurer@tragast.org to guarantee your seat.

Agenda:

15:00 Welcome (River City Bangkok - RCB Forum, 2nd floor)

15:30 Screening of "The Sound of Freedom"

18:00 Closing Comments

18:30 Optional Dinner (vivasviv restaurant, 1st floor)

20:30 Bon Voyage

Registration for Movie – complimentary first come first serve only 100 seats available.

Registration for Dinner on or before 15 April:

Rotarian / Rotaractor / Rotary Peace Fellow ฿1,250

General Public ฿1,350

Registration for Dinner on or before 25 April:

Rotarian / Rotaractor / Rotary Peace Fellow ฿1,500

General Public ฿1,750

Registration at the door 28 April ฿2,000 if not sold out.

For payment just transfer funds to:

Bangkok Bank

Pratu Chang Phuak Branch

125 Chang phuak Rd, T.Sriphum A. Muang

Chiangmai 50300 Thailand

Swift Code: BKKBTHBK

Account Number: 531-0-932891

Name on Account: GERALD EDWARD NELSON & PONGSAWART NIYOMCA

Sponsorship opportunities are available. The include special seating, up to 4 complimentary dinner tickets and promotion of your organization.

Learn More.

We thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you on the 28th at River City! A special Thank You to our sponsors:

JOIN Rotary/RAGAS/TRAGAST

Some time ago I asked my son to consider joining Rotary. His reply “Why should I do that”? Years later I’m thinking about the conversation and realize I never gave him a compelling reason. In the meantime, I have become much more focused and more determined. Today I might say “My passion is saving children from human trafficking and Rotary helps”! Let me share with you some of my rationale and passion:

Rotary: My guess is that many who read this are active Rotarians. They will know what I feel and are invited to provide any feedback. You may initiate the process of becoming a Rotarian at https://www.rotary.org/en/get-involved/join In the end joining Rotary is by invitation. There are Rotary clubs near you, Rotary clubs that meet online and there are cause based Rotary clubs dedicated to fighting modern slavery / human trafficking. See the listing at https://tragast.org under resources.

RAGAS: The Rotary Action Group Against Slavery - We are a global, action-driven network of Rotarians dedicated to freedom fighting, justice, seeking, problem solving and advocating for basic human rights working together to abolish modern slavery. To join simply go to https://ragas.online. There are many reasons to join, one that is quite popular at large gatherings is the fact that joining RAGAS helps your Rotary Club achieve a Club Excellence award, at least in Northern Thailand. My reason for belonging is that it’s a small thing I can do to help prevent children from becoming trafficked!

TRAGAST: Our mission is Enable and Assist our community to take action to eliminate human trafficking through awareness and specific projects, especially prevention. You can make a real difference, TRAGAST can help. Please join us!

Train The Trainers

On February 9^th and 10^th The Peace Culture Foundation sponsored and conducted a two day workshop “Train the Trainer”. The idea was to prepare youth leaders from 15 Provinces in Northern Thailand. 46 Amazing young people participated, 6 of those were high school seniors! Some have already begun to raise funds to continue this critical work in their own communities.

Peace Culture Foundation has 3 senior trainers, 5 trainers who are university students and 5 trainers-in- training. All 13 were present at event!

During the workshop they were taught:

Violence Against Children & Women
Characteristics of Perpetrator
Online and In-person Grooming
Bystander Intervention Strategies
Reporting and Available Support
Preliminary Survivor Support
Peer Advocacy Working with Children
Implementation Plans

Under the guidance of Dr. Sombat Tapanya and his team these youth leaders will be training other young people. More “Train the Trainer” workshops will be conducted in the near future. They have become the main priority for training, more efficient and more cost effective than concentrating on individual communities and schools.

Sadly, there have been a rash of sexual assaults against children in Chiang Mai area schools in the past few months, enforcing the importance and urgency of the training programs facilitated by Peace Culture Foundation.

TRAGAST is both proud and grateful to have the Peace Culture Foundation Training as our main action project. Our main challenge is funding, but that is the subject of another article.

Support Human Trafficking - Prevention film

Below is the text from an appeal from Matt Friedman at the Mekong Club. This project is designed to prevent human trafficking into scam centers. TRAGAST is working to help fund this extremely important project. Make a Direct Donation or make a pledge by sending an email to treasurer@tragast.org Take Action Today!

Introduction:

In the hidden world of the human trafficking scam trade, ruthless criminals destroy countless lives. Our mission is clear: use a short film to help overseas job seekers protect themselves from becoming victims of modern-day slavery. Time is of the essence; every day allows this trade to continue and innocent lives to be trapped. Join us in preventing people from becoming victims of human trafficking into scam centres through a short film, and together, we can shine a light on this issue, arming job seekers with the knowledge they need to stay safe.

The Problem:

The situation is complex: hundreds of thousands of people from handfuls of nationalities have been forced into online criminal activities. While some countries are trying to address this issue, criminals adapt, change locations, and upgrade their operations and techniques to avoid identification. There are two types of victims here. First, there are people who have lost money and suffered shame from falling for online scams. Second, there are hundreds of thousands who are forced to work in these scam centres, enduring terrible treatment and human rights violations, such as restriction of movement, physical and sexual violence, debt bondage, and being openly sold between enslavers on online platforms. We focus on the second group—victims of trafficking. They are often well-educated English-speaking professionals and students looking for overseas job opportunities. Our approach addresses the root causes, stops impunity, and prevents more people from being coerced into this heinous crime.

Stop Traffick to Scam Center

Before doing anything please spend the next 7 minutes listening to Matt Friedman TRAGAST is working to help fund this extremely important project. Make a Direct Donation or make a pledge by sending an email to treasurer@tragast.org Take Action Today!

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Human Trafficking = Terrorism

Human trafficking is a heinous crime that should be unequivocally classified as a form of terrorism on a global scale.

The parallels between human trafficking and terrorism are disturbingly evident, and recognizing the former as a manifestation of the latter is crucial for mobilizing resources, implementing stringent measures, and fostering international cooperation to eradicate this modern-day slavery.

At its core, terrorism seeks to instill fear, disrupt societies, and undermine the very fabric of human civilization. Human trafficking accomplishes these nefarious objectives by preying on the vulnerable, subjecting them to unspeakable horrors, and creating a pervasive atmosphere of terror.

Victims of human trafficking endure physical and psychological trauma, live in constant fear, and often face the grim reality of never escaping their captors. The terror they experience is not confined to physical abuse; it extends to the systematic destruction of their sense of self, dignity, and hope.

Human trafficking operates on a global scale, transcending borders and exploiting weaknesses in international law enforcement.

This transnational nature aligns with the characteristics of terrorism, which also knows no boundaries. Traffickers act with impunity, traversing countries to evade authorities and perpetrate their crimes.

By acknowledging human trafficking as a form of terrorism, nations can unite in a coordinated effort to combat this scourge collectively. Just as nations collaborate to counteract terrorism, a similar global alliance is essential to dismantle the intricate networks that sustain human trafficking.

The financial aspect of human trafficking bears resemblance to the funding mechanisms of terrorist organizations. Both thrive on illicit financial flows, relying on a complex web of money laundering and illegal transactions.

By designating human trafficking as a form of terrorism, nations can intensify efforts to track and freeze the assets of traffickers, dismantling their economic infrastructure and disrupting their ability to operate.

The urgency of this reclassification is underscored by the impact of human trafficking on national security.

Just as terrorism poses a threat to the stability of nations, human trafficking destabilizes societies by fueling corruption, organized crime, and social unrest.

The ripple effects extend to neighboring countries, creating a regional security threat.

Recognizing human trafficking as a form of terrorism would prompt nations to allocate more resources to prevention, intervention, and victim support, thereby fortifying their defenses against this insidious global menace.

The victims of human trafficking deserve nothing less than a united front against their tormentors, and the world must respond with unwavering resolve to eradicate this modern-day slavery from the face of the earth.

hashtag#linkedinforcreators LinkedIn for Creators hashtag#humantrafficking hashtag#modernslavery

The Rotary Four-Way Test: Guiding Principles for a Changing World

In a world of constant change and evolving ethical dilemmas, it is essential to have guiding principles that promote integrity, fairness, and goodwill. The Rotary Four-Way Test is a timeless code of ethics that has provided individuals, businesses, and organizations with a moral compass for over eight decades. Developed by Herbert J. Taylor in the 1930s, this simple yet profound set of four questions has stood the test of time, reminding us of the values that should guide our actions and decisions. Let us explore the essence of the Rotary Four-Way Test and its relevance in today's complex world.

The Rotary Four-Way Test consists of four simple questions that encourage individuals to evaluate the ethics of their thoughts, words, and actions:

Relevance in Today's World:

1. Truth and Integrity:

The first question of the Four-Way Test urges individuals to prioritize honesty and authenticity. By embracing the truth, we build trust, foster meaningful connections, and promote transparency in our personal and professional lives.

2. Fairness and Justice:

The second question challenges us to evaluate whether our actions treat all individuals fairly. It encourages us to be mindful of the potential impact on others and strive for equitable outcomes. Embracing fairness fosters inclusivity, strengthens social cohesion, and helps address systemic inequalities.

3. Goodwill and Better Friendships:

The third question encourages us to reflect on whether our actions contribute positively to relationships and promote harmony. By cultivating goodwill, we create an environment where empathy, compassion, and respect flourish, allowing us to build stronger, more inclusive communities.

4. Benefit to All:

The final question of the Four-Way Test reminds us to consider the broader impact of our decisions. It encourages us to think beyond self-interest and evaluate whether our actions serve the greater good. By prioritizing the welfare and well-being of all, we can work towards creating a more sustainable, just, and compassionate world.

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RAGAS Growth & Progress in Thailand

It is very pleasing to see excellent RAGAS membership numbers growth in Thailand from 2 Rotary districts. It is also gratifying to see the team initiatives in providing a focus on prevention education training for students, teachers, parents, and officials. These members have created the Thailand RAGAS Team (TRAGAST) which is ably led by PDG Chamnan Chanruang and PP Jerry Nelson. They aim to recruit more Thailand Rotarians and influence the Community and Authorities to work with NGO’s to tackle and curtail the exploitation of fellow Thailand community members.

Current Projects

The primary project is providing prevention training to students, teachers, parents, and officials. Training is conducted through the Peace Culture Foundation (PCF). Dr. Sombat Tapanya founder of PCF is working with psychology majors at Chiang Mai University who are trained to facilitate the trainings both in classrooms and online.Online training has been delivered to over 300 students, academics, and government officials in Chiang Mai Provence.Topics include grooming, sexual Abuse, peer advocacy, awareness of pedophiles and sociopaths, bystander intervention and more. PCF also delivered face to face training at 11 schools in June 2022 and conducted a workshop for 60+ youth leaders in Chiang Mai. More training is being planned both in classrooms and online.
TRAGAST also has a library project where we have placed 9 portable libraries in popular locations throughout Chiang Mai. Books are free to the readers. The inside cover of every book includes a sticker with information about Rotary, RAGAS and TRAGAST. We try to They ensure that Matt Friedman’s “Where Were You” is on every bookshelf. This project could be easily duplicated in other areas.
One member is writing an original stage play to raise awareness of human trafficking, especially child sex trafficking. They hope to premier the play in late 2023, likely in Chiang Mai.

Going Forward:

TRAGAST members are working to expand the team and at the same time to gain support / assistance from Rotary Districts and Clubs outside of Thailand with the long-term goal to provide prevention awareness campaigns and training throughout Thailand.
The TRAGAST plan is to expand membership in all 4 Thailand Rotary Districts and double their membership by the end of RY2023-24.

Please contact the Thailand RAGAS Coordinator at Coordinator@tragast.org for further information.

Last Update

Last Update April 3, 2024

A complete list of stories available on this website is available in the About Us section

Stop human trafficking now!

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