The Story of Sak and Tawan
*This story is written to build awareness. It is a call to action to protect vulnerable children. It is not intended, in any way, to diminish the value of any religion or faith people hold dear.
“These children come from poverty. It’s a force that pushes them from home with the hope of a better life. They end up in dangerous situations, in places where they don’t know the language or the culture.”
The stories of those who face human trafficking and exploitation often begin with one word: “power”. It can be the power of money, reputation, respect, or faith. Perpetrators use this power to control and violate the vulnerable—the powerless.
Power is a double-edged sword. It can be used to protect and create positive change. It can also be used to destroy. LIFT International exists to fight the destructive use of power, strengthening justice systems through law enforcement support to protect every single person. Real, lasting change is possible. But it happens faster and better when communities stand together to ensure every life is safe and treated with the dignity they deserve.
The story of two migrant boys, given the names Sak* and Tawan*, is a reflection of the many children waiting for us to act. They were trapped in a situation they could not escape, in a country and a language they did not know, with no idea how to protect themselves.
A Broken Promise
Sak and Tawan, barely pre-teens, knew only a simple village life in the neighboring country. For their families, poverty was a daily reality that had left them illiterate. When a relative offered to send the boys to a temple in Northern Thailand for an education and a better life, it seemed like an answer to their wishes. It wasn’t a hard decision for their parents to agree.
Along with five other boys, they traveled to Thailand full of hope. Innocent and obedient, the boys did everything they were told. They shaved their heads, changed into novices' robes, and participated in all the temple's activities. They trusted completely, even when told to sleep in the room of a senior monk—the very place where the risk to their safety began.
Instead of finding an education through faith, their hope was shattered. In this unfamiliar place, under the care of strangers, their trust was betrayed. The boys were subjected to horrific sexual abuse and exploitation at the hands of villain disguised as man of faith.
The Fight for Freedom
The young boys waiting to be reunited with their families as Lao authorities prepare to bring them home.
After two months of suffering, living in constant fear after being threatened with punishment by being locked in a pitch-black room, LIFT and the Thai police intervened. The boys were successfully removed from harm and placed in a government children’s shelter in Thailand. The path to justice, however, was just beginning. It was a long road, complicated by language barriers that made it nearly impossible for the boys to testify about the incidents and express their trauma.
A medical check-up revealed the depth of their neglect: the boys had never received basic vaccinations, could not even state their own dates of birth, and carried no legal identity documents.
Still, our team refused to give up. While LIFT’s social workers provided constant support—helping the boys make sense of their situation and hold onto hope—our legal expert relentlessly pursued justice. She sought out a translator for the Khmu language, spoken by their minority group in Laos, to ensure Sak and Tawan could finally tell their story. She was determined to hold the offenders accountable.
For months, a provincial multidisciplinary team, including LIFT, worked tirelessly to gather evidence, aiming for a human trafficking charge but building a strong case for sexual exploitation. Through collaboration between teams in Thailand and their home country, we were able to arrange for all the boys' safe return home, a 10-hour journey across the border.
Even when the case seemed to hit a dead end, our team remained committed. "I will not let these boys be silenced or denied justice," declared Pik, the leader of LIFT’s legal team. Her dedication became a beacon of hope as the boys were finally reunited with their families in their homeland.
The Fight for Freedom
Pik, the leader of LIFT’s legal team
In 2024, that unwavering dedication led to a remarkable victory. A judge sentenced the main offender to a total of over 45 years in prison for sexually abusing the seven boys, which included Sak and Tawan. Though the sentence was reduced for a guilty plea, it ensures he will spend decades behind bars, unable to harm another child. He was also ordered to compensate Sak and Tawan with a total of THB 30,000.
This victory is more than a legal outcome. It is a powerful statement. It proves that vulnerable voices, when amplified, can bring down the powerful. It shows our unwavering commitment to pursuing justice, no matter how long it takes.
Sak and Tawan’s story is a harsh reminder of a dark reality, but their outcome is a symbol of hope. It is evidence that when we stand together against the abuse of power, justice can and will prevail. Join us in the fight to make our communities safe for every child.
*Names have been changed to protect the survivors.