As the Sovereign Order of Malta became a member of COATNET (Christian Organizations Against Trafficking in Persons Network) last year, we were invited to attend their Biennial Affiliates Meeting, held in Bangkok from 4-8 March. Ambassador Veuthey and Dott. Piluso attended the conference. The meeting was divided into several working groups to discuss how COATNET and its members should work together to combat human trafficking.

On the second day, Ambassador Michel Veuthey delivered a keynote speech on “Global Analysis ofHuman Trafficking: Trends and Challenges”. He presented various statistics and highlighted the work carried out by order of Malta in recent years, with a particular focus on the side events organized at the United Nations and the 39 webinars held since October 2020. Here you can find his full recorded intervention.

In addition, a meeting with the Thai police was organized on the third day, providing a platform for exchanges in which both COATNET and the police highlighted their efforts to prevent and combat human trafficking. Professor Veuthey intervened, recalling that this year marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the Order. He also recalled the visit of the Grand Chancellor and the Grand Hospitaller two years ago, when they attended the 11th Asia-Pacific Conference (12-16 October) and were received on 12 October by Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. Michel Veuthey reaffirmed the cooperation between the Order and Thailand, including on the issue of trafficking in human beings.

Finally, on the fourth day, we had the opportunity to visit the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (CBCT), where we discussed the issue of human trafficking and the CBCT’s efforts to combat it. This visit also facilitated contacts with various religious congregations, including those with whom we have worked in the past, such as the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd. Some of them have also worked with Malteser International.

HERE you can find both the text and the slides of Ambassador Veuthey’s intervention on “Global Analysis ofHuman Trafficking: Trends and Challenges”.