The Reason for the Season It is the season of giving. We wrap boxes in bright paper. We tie them with ribbons. Most of these gifts bring a moment of joy—a toy, a sweater, or a new gadget.

But for some, the most important gift cannot be bought in a store. It is not found under a tree.

For the children LIFT International serves, the only gift that matters is freedom. It is the restoration of a stolen childhood—just like Rita’s*. At seven years old, her world was overshadowed by a horrific secret.

Read More

The 2025 TIP Report confirms the human trafficking battlefield has shifted online. Forced Criminality and AI are the new weapons. How is LIFT responding to this new frontline? Read our perspective.

Read More

The rise of scamming operations is increasingly tied to the global crisis of human trafficking. Many of us have received calls from scammers or "call center gangs," but what if the voices on the other end aren’t criminals, but victims trapped in forced criminality? Lured by fake job offers, trafficked across borders, and coerced into scamming others under threat and violence, these individuals are caught in a vicious cycle.

Join us as we uncover the hidden truth behind the scam, revealing the darker side of trafficking. Together, we can expose this injustice and break the cycle, protecting more lives from being forced into crime.

Read More

This year, on February 11, 2025, LIFT hosted “Safer Online Friendships, Without Fear”. Nearly 100 participants joined us—learning from experts at LIFT International, Rapha International, and law enforcement on how to build safe connections and protect communities from digital exploitation.

Missed the webinar? We have captured the most powerful moments from the 90-minute session in this recap video. Watch, learn, and share!

Read More

When we protect survivors of human trafficking, we plant seeds of hope. Every step we take—identifying and removing them from harm, seeking justice, and supporting their recovery—creates lasting change.

Justice through prosecution offers a tangible victory, but healing takes time. Resilience comes step by step, on a path only they can walk.

This work isn’t quick or easy, but it’s worth it. When a vulnerable child can return to who they were meant to be, they can dream, hope, and build the future they deserve.

Read More

Human trafficking is a dark crime that exploits people from all walks of life. With the rise of technology, traffickers use it to reach victims worldwide, regardless of age, nationality, or background. These crimes cross borders, shattering human dignity for profit. Every year, human trafficking generates about $150 billion, showing the urgent need for global action.

The US Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report highlights international efforts to fight this crime. Thailand remains in Tier 2, showing progress but still needing help to fully meet the standards to end trafficking. Together, we can push for a safer world.

Read More

“Regardless of gender, all individuals deserve equal respect as human beings. Yet, a significant hurdle persists: the barrier of mindset. This barrier is often upheld by those who should protect them—whether it's parents, the community, or even those within the justice system.”. - Am, LIFT's social worker
Learn more on how LIFT helps individuals affected by online sexual exploitation and human trafficking, whether they are boys or girls. Your support is crucial for CHANGE. Together, we create sustainable change. Today’s kids are tomorrow’s parents, fostering positive transformation in our safer society.

Read More

Sheep are like beings that need care and protection, just like a shepherd does. They also symbolize New Zealand, where LIFT originated and where these sheep are commonly seen. When we think about LIFT's mission, it's a powerful reminder of what matters most to us: safeguarding people's lives from human trafficking.

Read More

LIFT International’s mission focuses on prosecuting and preventing human trafficking by strengthening justice systems. When it comes to the Tier results, we see them as an annual opportunity to use them as a self-reflection tool. Specifically, we aim to clearly observe our progress in fulfilling our mission and our ability to contribute to society in tackling human trafficking. Thailand ranks among the nations meeting Tier 2 standards this year, as recognized in last year's rankings. While we hold the futuristic hope of raising the standards for combating human trafficking in Thailand, we also acknowledge that reaching and maintaining this level has been possible due to the efforts and cooperation from all sectors in dealing with the progressive tactics of perpetrators in the modern day.

Read More

LIFT’s goal is to strengthen the legal system so that perpetrators are brought to justice and victims' loss and dignity are restored. What becomes of the immeasurable damage, shattered dreams, and forfeited happiness that the victim experience? Unfortunately, since Thai law operates under the civil law system, tangible losses are mainly considered. We work tirelessly to help survivors receive compensation for their losses, which is a tough challenge for our team.

Read More

The New Year countdown is drawing close and we are reflecting on this past year. It has been a year filled with many stories and challenges for LIFT. However, we can rejoice in the results of our work from our joined hands and team unity.As you know human trafficking is a complicated issue and needs cross-sector collaboration to solve. Even though the coronavirus epidemic (Covid-19) has slightly reduced, its effects have permanently changed our workflows.Through this blog we hope you see what LIFT has experienced, both highs and lows, and rejoice with us.

Read More

In 2019 law enforcement terminated a massage parlour in Bangkok. Amidst the chaos, a sixteen years old girl, Ying*, sat quietly in the corner crying, her body shaking. This had been her first day at work, having just arrived at work. A manager promised her 50,000 THB or around 2,300 NZD, if she serviced a businessman. Customers are willing to pay extra for a girl like Ying who has never had a sexual experience. However, she was saved from being exploited by an illegal underage prostitution business. Now, she is at home and continues her studies after completing her recovery process. Ying is a lucky girl for receiving LIFT's assistance but there are many similar stories of girls in tears with fear of being a victim of sex trafficking. Read this story and learn how we can wipe and replace the tears of fear with joy.

Read More

Each year those working in the human trafficking field have focused on the release of the Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report) by the USA Department of State. This year Thailand has been raised to Tier 2, moving up from being a country in Tier 2 Watchlist. This year the report mentioned that Thailand has not yet met minimum standards to eradicate human trafficking. However, it has shown an improvement in efforts compared to last year.

Read More

The 2021 US TIP Report saw Thailand demoted from Tier 2 to Tier 2 Watch List. We grieve with our partners in government and law enforcement who have set their sights on a Tier 1 goal, and also commit alongside them to accept the challenge and recommendations made by the TIP Report to do whatever it takes to reach that goal.

Read More