The role of interpretation services in identifying trafficking victims in the fishing sector in Thailand

Abstract

Trafficking survivors have the right to receive interpretation services according to international standards for the treatment of trafficked persons. Recognition of this right, as well as the important role interpretation services can play in combating human trafficking varies across countries like the U.S., Italy, Spain, and Thailand. For example, the U.S. has created standards for interpreters working with trafficking victims which stipulate qualifications required to provide the service and ways in which the service should be delivered. In the case of Italy, interpreters play an active role in all the processes survivors need to follow. However, in Spain and Thailand, such standards do not exist and there is limited to no recognition of the important role played by interpretation services. This results either in the provision of poor quality services or their complete absence. The objectives of this paper are twofold. It first aims to identify the specific challenges and problems of providing interpretation services in the context of the Thai fishing sector. Secondly, it aims to identify the areas in which the poor quality or complete absence of interpretation services is hindering proper identification of trafficking victims and hence their access to their rights in the Thai fishing sector. Through the literature review and interviews with interpreters, lawyers, and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the paper identifies key issues surrounding the provision of interpretation services in Thailand with respect to U.S. standards for interpreters working with trafficking victims. The findings identify challenges and problems of providing good quality services as well as their consequences in four areas: vessel inspections, identification processes, shelters, and courts. The findings also provide important insight into the specific problems that exist in Thailand. These include poor quality of service provision due to lack of training or knowledge of the language; the use of any person that can speak the language as an interpreter; and the lack of interpretation services during vessel inspections, which can result in misidentification of victims. The thesis argues that the role of interpretation services needs to be redefined and standards need to be adopted to ensure good quality provision of interpretation services.