Modern slavery and human trafficking remain persistent human rights violations and financial crimes globally and in Thailand. Despite significant progress in enforcement, victim protection, and regulatory reform, emerging forms of exploitation linked to complex supply chains, (deceptive, fee-based) cross-border recruitment, migration, forced labour, and scam-centre operations continue to evolve. These trends underscore the need for a whole-of-government and whole -of-market response that goes beyond traditional criminal justice measures.

The financial sector plays a critical role in both enabling and preventing modern slavery. Financial transactions often provide the most traceable evidence of exploitation, while financial regulators and institutions hold leverage that can influence business behaviour, shape market incentives, and strengthen transparency across value chains. When used effectively, financial tools and systems can also support compensation, remediation, and recovery for victims and survivors, complementing enforcement efforts and strengthening overall accountability.

The Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAST) initiative, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Liechtenstein, provides a framework for how financial systems can help detect, disrupt, and prevent modern slavery. In 2024–2025, UNDP Thailand with the FAST Initiative and the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection (Ministry of Justice), and the Global Compact Network Thailand (GCNT) convened a series of policy dialogues and training programmes to localise the FAST framework for Thailand’s context.