In 2020, the Lower Mekong Initiative was upgraded and expanded to the Mekong-U.S. Partnership (MUSP). The MUSP Track 1.5 Policy Dialogue series is a flagship initiative of the Partnership and includes seven virtual and in-person dialogues from 2021 to 2023 focusing on key policy and sustainability challenges facing Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. This discussion will launch the summary report to share takeaways and policy recommendations from the 6th Policy Dialogue, which was held in Bangkok in May 2023 as a deep-dive on needs and opportunities related to trafficking in persons, wildlife trafficking, drug trafficking, and cyber-enabled crime.
Keynote Speakers
Aunchalee Duangkaew, Director of Border Security and Neighboring Countries’ Affairs Division, Office of the National Security Council of Thailand
Dan Caroll, Acting Asia Division Chief with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at U.S. Department of State
Featured Speakers
Mech Dara, Independent Journalist
Mech Dara is a former reporter for the Cambodia Daily, the Phnom Penh Post, and the VOD and is currently a freelancer. In 2023 he won a TIP Hero Award from the U.S. Department of State for for his reporting on cyber-scam slavery compounds in Cambodia.
Valentina Casulli, Project Officer, Humanity Research Consultancy
Valentina Casulli has research and professional experience in human trafficking, modern slavery, labor rights, supply chains, and policy analysis and recommendations. Recent work has focused on human trafficking and slavery in scamming compounds across Southeast Asia, contributing to research and data collection on the matter and advocating for affirmative action from governments and relevant public bodies through guidance and policy recommendations.
Cynthia Gabriel, Senior Anti-Corruption Advisor, CIPE
Cynthia is Founding Director of the Center to Combat Corruption & Cronyism and a key advocate of human rights and good governance in Malaysia. She has degrees in both science and law and brings two decades of experience to governance, the rule of law, and anti-corruption knowledge. In 2022, Cynthia was conferred the global “anti-corruption champion” award by US Secretary Anthony Blinken. She continues to lead strong advocacy reform initiatives at national and global platforms on political finance, whistleblower protection & corporate accountability.
Nga Bui, Senior Program Officer, TRAFFIC Vietnam
After graduating from university, Nga Bui devoted herself to working in the field of social and environmental development. Joining the TRAFFIC team in 2015, she is best known as a campaigner for demand reduction efforts tackling the consumption of flagship species in the country. Eight-year experience working in the wildlife conservation sector helps her to become a master and strong wildlife-driven stakeholder management. Social and behavior change techniques are one of her strengths.
Moderator
Brian Eyler, Southeast Asia Program Director, The Stimson Center
Brian Eyler directs the Southeast Asia Program and the Energy, Water, and Sustainability Program. He is an expert on transboundary issues in the Mekong region and specializes in China’s economic cooperation with Southeast Asia. He spent more than 15 years living and working in China and over the last two decades has conducted extensive research with stakeholders in the Mekong region. See his full bio here.