USAID supports update of Thailand Counter Wildlife Trafficking Rapid Reference Guide for prosecutors and investigators

USAID supports update of Thailand Counter Wildlife Trafficking Rapid Reference Guide for prosecutors and investigators
The Rapid Reference Guide, launched in March 2019 to help prosecutors and investigators bring wildlife criminals to justice, is being updated to align with Thailand’s recently updated Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act (WARPA) B.E.2562.
USAID, in partnership with Thailand’s Office of the Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, and WWF Thailand, organized a virtual meeting to update Thailand’s Rapid Reference Guide (RRG).

Originally launched in March 2019 to help prosecutors and investigators bring wildlife criminals to justice, revisions to the RRG were needed to align with Thailand’s recently updated Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act (WARPA) B.E.2562, a key piece of legislation included in the guide. The meeting included a wide range of participants from the Thai government, U.S. government, and the international conservation community.  So what? Due to its strategic location in Southeast Asia and well-developed transport infrastructure, Thailand has become a major transit hub for illegal wildlife products including rhino horn, elephant ivory, and pangolin carcasses and scales by criminal syndicates.  The RRG has become a much-lauded tool to help investigators and prosecutors develop and bring cases to court.