UNAFEI
150th International Senior Seminar
Closing Ceremony –8 February 2011
Farewell Speech
Ms. Pattraporn Pommanuchatip
ThailandHonorable Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Mr. Tatsuya SAKUMA, Director of UNAFEI;
Mr. Haruhiko UKAWA, Deputy Director of UNAFEI;
Mr. Hisanao NODA, Deputy Director of TIC, JICA;
Mr. Osamu SHIMIZU, President of the Research and Training Institute of theMinistry of Justice;
Faculty and Staff Members of UNAFEI; JICA Staff Members; Distinguished
Guests; Fellow Participants; Ladies and Gentlemen;
Good evening.

In December last year, 21 of us here received an official invitation to the Crime
Prevention and Criminal Justice Senior Seminar of the United Nations Asia and Far East
Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders. All of us wereexcited by the chance to meet people of different backgrounds, cultures and practices
and to share our experience and knowledge with them. Many of us had never visited
Japan before, and we knew that we would be strangers to each other and in an
unfamiliar land.
However, the tremendous support of UNAFEI and the Japanese International

Cooperation Agency, beginning before we departed for Japan, then upon our arrival here,and right throughout the duration of our stay, has allowed us to make the most of thisopportunity, both on personal and professional levels. We have learned so much about
Japanese society, economy, education, history and culture, and began to understand alittle more of Japan and its successful modernization of its society

Our Seminar aimed to provide us the opportunity to share experiences, gain
knowledge and examine measures against human trafficking. Participants were senior
officials whose work relates to trafficking in persons.
The informative and comprehensive lectures, individual presentations, group
workshops and observation visits have led us to a remarkable result. We have discussed,
shared and learnt the current situation of our respective countries, from each other andfrom distinguished lecturers of wide experience and true expertise. We recognize thathuman trafficking is a problem of the whole international community and thatcooperation between and among countries is vital to combat trafficking in persons.
The traffickers have become more sophisticated, crossing borders and creatingtransnational organized criminal networks. While government agencies face certain
limitations due to territorial jurisdiction, the criminal groups have no boundary limits.
Moreover, they take advantage of different social and economic circumstances and use
the gap arising from such differences and the governments’ territorial limitations to act
with impunity.

Detection, investigation and prosecution of this crime meet criticalobstacles deriving from social and economic factors, the vulnerability of victims, thelack of public awareness, the weakness of law enforcement and the lack of international
cooperation. Victims, who are the most important witnesses, suffer grievous damage

and need protection. It is necessary for government officials to develop our capacity,enhance our knowledge and establish international cooperation in order to overcome
these obstacles and to render justice.
The study trips and observation visits to various organizations of the Japanesecriminal justice system deepened our understanding of the systematized functions andinteraction among Japanese criminal justice agencies. We visited a court room andfacilities for witness protection at the Tokyo District Court; the Tokyo District Public
Prosecutors Office evidence handling and storage facilities; the Supreme Court; Kyoto
Public Prosecutors Office; Kansai Airport Immigration Office; the 6th Regional Coast
Guard Office; and Aiko Juvenile Training School for Girls. We appreciate such a varied
programme of visits and also the privilege of meeting with the Minister of Justice and a
Justice of the Supreme Court.
It was also our honour to enjoy the parties hosted by the Vice Minister of Justice;
the UNAFEI Alumni, and the Asia Crime Prevention Foundation (ACPF). Also we metwith the Volunteer Probation Officers and the members of ACPF and took lessons fromour interactions with them. We visited several interesting places, including shrines,temples and Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial. Again, in Hiroshima, the warm welcome
party hosted by the ACPF provided us with an opportunity to understand more about
Japan and to socialize with esteemed members of the ACPF.
The Table Tennis Tournament and Lounge B karaoke parties allowed us to get toknow each other and also the Director, Deputy Director and professors and staff ofUNAFEI in a relaxed and informal way.
By our own assessment, the Seminar achieved its objectives far beyond ourexpectations. Not only did we attain a deeper knowledge of our own sociologicalenvironments and legal frameworks, but we enjoyed a platform of intellectual exchange,inter-system communication and the chance to discuss future good practice. We
participants have extended our knowledge and understanding and have broadened ourhorizons as criminal justice practitioners in a globalized world. We are newly sensitized
to the subject area and promise to maintain a new international network against
trafficking in persons. We will seek to influence the future with the best practicesidentified in the Seminar.
Many people have contributed to the success of this Seminar. On behalf of all theparticipants of the 150th Senior Seminar, I would like to express our profound andsincere gratitude and appreciation to the Government of Japan, the Japanese People,
JICA and UNAFEI for granting us this opportunity.
I would like to mention and acknowledge JICA and its staff, in particular, Ms.
Yamamoto, for coordinating and facilitating our logistics.
I also would like to express my acknowledgement, gratitude and appreciation tothe Director of UNAFEI, his deputy, and the professors and staff for the invitation,convention and administration of this Seminar, their advice and support both inside andoutside UNAFEI, and for their cheerful, helpful, cooperative and kind hospitality. I
would like to thank the professors and staff who escorted us on our observation visitsand study trip. I also give thanks to the kitchen staff for the good food they have served
to us, and to the housekeeping staff for our clean and comfortable accommodation. Also
I would like to acknowledge the ACPF for their support of our programmes andactivities.
Lastly, I have to say thank you to the Japanese participants, who have kindly
devoted their valuable time to us, teaching us the Japanese language and culture,participating in our Japanese classes, assisting our research and arrangements, leading
and accompanying on our days off, even spending time away from their lovely families.
Your work and hospitality have been flawless. Our success, comfort, and happinesshere was so much dependent upon your work, patience, kind contribution andhospitality. This was a memorable and enjoyable time and you will remain forever inour memories. We all look forward to keeping in touch, and seeing you again.
Thank you.