Russell Hawksford, former Accru Rawsons partner and co-founder of 'The Grey Man' charity, has been working hard behind the scenes in South East Asia to rescue children from slavery and exploitation.
Child Trafficking in Asia – The Grey Man tackling it head on
The global child sex industry is huge, and ranks only behind the drug trade in criminal income worldwide. In Asia, trafficking routes are vast and the UN estimates 1.2 million people are sold into slavery each year. A former Accru Rawsons partner, Russell Hawksford, and a team from ‘The Grey Man’ charity have been working hard behind the scenes in South East Asia to change these frightening statistics and rescue children from a life of slavery and exploitation.
For most of us, holidaying in Asia and particularly Thailand is a must at some point. It’s cheap, the people are friendly and happy, and the result is a relaxing break with good eating, value shopping and throw in the beach to top it off.
From a family tourist perspective this picture is accurate – but what most don’t know or ever see is the reality of the “other side”. Lurking in the background are the seedy bars, the prostitution, the drugs and most distressing, the illegal trafficking of innocent children.
To tackle this problem, Russell and John Curtis established The Grey Man Inc (TGM), a registered charity that organises and executes covert rescue missions in Thailand and Laos (and shortly Cambodia and Vietnam) to rescuing children who have been sold into child prostitution and factory labour.
Both with time in military background, the TGM founders chose ‘The Grey Man’ name because it refers to the military operative who moves in under cover, completes the task and fades into the background – TGM’s strategic goal.
“Essentially what we do is simple to explain but much harder to execute,” says Russell.
“With very few resources, we leverage effort in our child rescue work in Thailand by gathering intelligence and working with Thai police to execute sting operations. We have established close relations with Thai and Australian authorities and this allows us to punch beyond our weight.”
Since its establishment in 2004, TGM has rescued hundreds of children and been integral in the arrest of many dangerous traffickers in South East Asia. In 2009 alone, TGM has been instrumental in arresting a major trafficking gang responsible for destroying the lives of 150 girls from Laos annually. TGM has also driven cases resulting in the arrest of multiple pedophiles in Thailand and one recently in conjunction with the Swedish and Thai police, has broken the back of an international pedophile gang who were using and trading children.
The problem is worse in Burma, Cambodia , Vietnam and Laos than Thailand, for several reasons including poorer economies and lack of policing resources. In Burma, the problem is inextricably linked with the amphetamine trade (yaba). Sadly, most of the Burmese warlords deal in drugs, arms and children. In Thailand, the authorities have imposed heavy penalties for trafficking, however the effectiveness is often limited by the will to enforce, corruption and resources to combat the cashed-up traffickers.
TGM has a support base in the hundreds and is operated on a shoestring budget with no overheads like rent, petrol and wages. Ninety percent of all donations are applied directly to TGM work. Its team of Australian volunteers do not get paid and fund their own travel and expenses to undertake covert rescue missions. The only salaries paid are for Thai operations staff who gather intelligence and work closely with local law enforcement agencies to ensure rescues are successful and victims protected.
TGM has also established prevention programs in Thai hill-tribe villages and works closely with the Lahu people to promote education – the ultimate trafficking tool. TGM has forged hard-won alliances with intelligence sources including the UN acclaimed Thai academic Sompop Jantraka.
The fight goes on daily and TGM has no illusions about eliminating trafficking but it is making a difference – ask the rescued children who now have a life and future.
For more information on TGM, please visit www.thegreyman.org or email info@thegreyman.org.
Please help Russell and TGM continue to save children in our neighbouring region escape slavery and live a happier and fulfilling life. Your generous donation will go a long way in securing the future for children in slavery.
Donations can be made direct by:
Paypal – go to website and follow the link
Cheque - The Grey Man, PO Box 234, Kenmore, Qld 4069
Direct bank credit – refer to website