Sex trafficking in Thailand is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and slavery that occurs in the Kingdom of Thailand. Thailand is a country of origin, destination, and transit for sex trafficking. Child prostitution in Thailand is a problem. In Thailand, close to 40,000 children under the age of 16 are believed to be in the sex trade, working in clubs, bars, and brothels. Sex trafficking victims in the country are from all ethnic groups in Thailand and foreigners. Children, rural people in poverty and or with little education, and migrants in Thailand are vulnerable. Thai citizens, primarily women and girls, have been sex trafficked into other countries in Asia and different continents. Many are forced into prostitution and or marriage and unfree labour, as well as forced surrogacy. Sex trafficked victims are threatened and experience physical and psychological trauma. They contract sexually transmitted diseases from rapes, and abuse and malnutrition are common. There has been an increase in cybersex trafficking in 21st century Thailand. The global spread of high-speed internet and increasing computer, tablet, and smartphone ownership has fueled online sex abuse and virtual prostitution. Some victims are coerced to be in pornographic films and live streams paid by clients worldwide. The government of Thailand has been criticized for its response to sex trafficking. The identification of sex trafficked persons is limited and there is a low rate of prosecutions and convictions of perpetrators. Corruption is widespread and some officials, police, and the military have been complicit. History During the 18th century, Thailand underwent major industrialization, causing food and land prices to increase. This resulted in people moving to work in factories located in the city. People earning more money created an increased demand for prostitution in the city. Commercialized sex in Thailand was a small industry at this time. The sex industry mainly flourished in the 1950s to 1970s during the Korean and Vietnam wars. Women from poverty-stricken areas of Thailand flocked to areas where military men were stationed and offered them sexual services in order to earn income. After the wars, Japanese investors became interested in Thailand and began investing in architecture, electronics, and the sex industry. It is estimated that during the 1990s, at least 400,000 people were engaged in the sex industry, 79% of whom were women and children. Between 1993 and 1995, it is estimated that prostitution produced an annual income between