Founded in 2001 with financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, IJM Thailand initially conducted undercover investigations of sex trafficking and underage prostitution in Chiang Mai, and in addition provided legal services to hill tribe families to obtain citizenship or upgrade their legal status within Thailand.  However, after strong indications that sex trafficking of minors in the region had reduced significantly, IJM Thailand directed its focus entirely to citizenship work. 

There are an estimated 1 million ethnic hill tribe persons residing in Northern Thailand today. They comprise a variety of smaller, distinct ethnic groups who immigrated to the mountainous regions of Thailand 100-250 years ago. While the majority of hill tribe people are eligible for citizenship, it is estimated between 400,000-450,000 hill tribe people have not received it.  Without citizenship documentation, these tribespeople are disproportionately vulnerable to human trafficking and other forms of violent abuse.  They cannot own land, travel outside their immediate locality or access subsidized health care. IJM Thailand secures this critical documentation for eligible families as a preventative measure to reduce their vulnerability to trafficking. The office has conducted significant outreach among the Karen, Akha, Lahu and Thai Yai (Shan) tribes. 

Since January 2010, IJM Canada has collaborated with IJM in operating the Thailand field office, and fully funds IJM's operations in Thailand. Substantial funding for the project is provided by North Park Community Church in  London, Ontario.

In 2010, IJM Thailand secured citizenship status for 843 individuals from northern Thailand.

 + To learn more about IJM's work in Thailand, read Ahsuer and Buter's story.
 + To help IJM Canada protect hill tribe people, click here and select "Regional Fund: Southeast Asia" as the designation.
 + If you would like your church to become involved with IJM Canada's work, read Churches Seeking Justice: Engage.