• Announcement 1 • Regional Cooperation to Prevent Human Trafficking in Asia: The Case of Thailand Amara Pongsapich, Chainperson (National Human Rights Commission of Thailand) Ⅰ. Preamble Human trafficking is a well known phenomenon in Asia. Many countries are country of origin, others are country of destination; while others are origin, destination and transit countries. Over the past years, the human trafficking has become transnational organized crimes involving international and local criminal networks. Individuals being trafficked include children and women as well as migrant workers. Some joined the criminal organizations voluntarily and others are forced into the system for the benefit of the agencies. There are many international instruments available to deal with the cross border international crimes which exploit human beings and violate human rights. In addition to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the most important instruments are: (1) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and International Convention on the Protection of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Ⅱ. International Mechanism 1. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 13 states：(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. (2) Every one has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his Regional Cooperation to Prevent Human Trafficking in Asia: The Case of Thailand ❙ 89