On 11 September 2026, the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations in Geneva, in collaboration with the Permanent Missions of the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Viet Nam, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Kenya to the UN in Geneva and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), co-hosted a side event on “Beyond Jurisdictional Gap: State Responsibility, Technical Cooperation and International Partnership Against Trafficking in Persons in the Context of Online Scams” during the 63^rd session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Switzerland. The event was attended by more than 80 participants representing over 40 countries and featured opening remarks by the Ambassador and Permanent Representatives of Thailand and the Republic of Korea to the United Nations Office in Geneva, highlighting the severity of the rapidly expanding online scam operations, which have become a global human rights crisis. Millions of people have fallen victim to online scams, while hundreds of thousands of individuals from more than 80 countries have been drawn into scam operations, many as victims of human trafficking. Recognizing the complex and transnational nature of the crisis and the need for strong international cooperation, Thailand aims to build on the outcomes of the 2025 International Conference on the Global Partnership against Online Scams in Bangkok and advance practical cooperation to address the issue. The event also features a panel discussion and exchange of views with the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery and trafficking in persons, a Legal and Policy Officer from the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Director of Multilateral Engagement at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC).

The side event served as an important platform to discuss the growing human rights crisis associated with online scam operations, including human trafficking, contemporary forms of slavery, forced criminality, torture, arbitrary detention, violence, and other serious human rights violations. The discussion addressed State responsibility and the conditions that enable scam operations and associated criminal networks to thrive, while exploring practical approaches to prevent human rights violations, protect and assist victims, ensure accountability and access to justice, and strengthen international partnerships and cross-border cooperation. The event also focused on strengthening practical cooperation and international technical cooperation to address human rights violations arising from these criminal networks.

Hosting this side event underscores Thailand's proactive and constructive role as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term. It also reaffirms Thailand’s steadfast commitment to advancing the global fight against human trafficking and protecting human rights in close collaboration with partner countries and international organisations.