สำนักงานราชบัณฑิตยสภา

189 ภั ทรพร สิ ริ กาญจน วารสารราชบัณฑิตยสภา ปีที่ ๔๑ ฉบับที่ ๒ เม.ย.-มิ.ย. ๒๕๕๙ Abstract Human Trafficking: A Morally Prohibited Activity in the Buddhist Ethics and the World Community Pataraporn Sirikanchana, Associate Fellow of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences, The Royal Society of Thailand. “Human Trafficking”, according to the Rãjakiccãnpeksã Section of the Royal Act of Prevention and Suppression against Human Trafficking of B.E. 2511,” is defined as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercions of abduction, of fraud of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.” Human Trafficking is a new form of slave trade which is different from the old one and from the Thai slavery which was abolished in the reign of King Rãma V while the new form of slave trade is multifarious and without mental relationship between the owner and his/her slave, Thai slavery shows a close relationship between the owner and the slave through some moral conducts, e.g., merciful treatment and faithfulness. Since human trafficking devalues humankind, it is not supported by the Buddhist ethics. According to Buddhist teachings, human beings take more values and nobility than all other world beings because they can develop their mindfulness and wisdom through their dhammic practices toward the attainment of the End of Suffering (Nibbãna). Besides, in the Tipitaka, one can find the Buddha’s teaching of Akaraãiya Vaãijjã (trades which should not be done by good people). In this teaching, The Buddha forbids trades in human beings (Satta-vanijjã) because they destroy human freedom leading to self-development and encourages the trader to transgress Buddhist morality, e.g., loving-kindness and compassion, perseverance, contentment, and honesty. Human trafficking is also rejected by the world community because it is against human right and freedom in Humanist perspectives. Human trafficking therefore should be prevented and suppressed through a proper education and moral development for egoistic reduction and altruistic growth of all people. Keywords: human trafficking, morality, slave trade, Humanism