International Organization for Migration; International Labour Organization, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Development Fund for Women, United Nations Population Fund, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Health Organization, United Nations Children?s Fund, World Bank, United Nations Country Team in Thailand...Foreword: Transborder migration is a well-known phenomenon in Thailand. Over the past 30 years, Thailand has promoted and administered the export of its labour as well as hosted hundreds of thousands of nationals from neighbouring countries, who have fled their homelands due to war, internal conflict or national instability. Although the number of people seeking refuge has varied during different periods, Thailand has accommodated these displaced people on a humanitarian basis. In addition, the Royal Thai Government has regularly given refuge and assisted in times of crisis. The government has erected temporary shelter along the border to house them and provided security personnel. Repatriation and resettlement has been on-going. However, with conflict and instability persistent in certain areas, some of the displaced people have been unable to return home and today as many as 130,000 remain in the country. While many of its neighbours have had to deal with internal difficulties, over the past 20 years Thailand has seen remarkable progress in human development. Thailand has demonstrated its success in meeting most, if not all, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and has moved on to set more ambitious targets of MDG ?Plus” that go well beyond the internationally agreed MDGs. Thailand reached the international MDG poverty target of halving the proportion of people living in poverty between 1990 and 2015, and will achieve these goals well in advance of 2015. This economic success and development enjoyed by Thailand has attracted thousands of migrants from neighbouring countries looking for a better standard of living. Furthermore, it has shaped migration flows in the region. While 500,000 Thais are reported to be working overseas, it is estimated that there are more than two million migrant workers from neighbouring Myanmar, Lao People?s Democratic Republic and Cambodia in Thailand, out of which 501,590 hold a valid work permit. In recent years, international migration is a topic of discussion high on the agenda of governments, the United Nations, international organisations and non-governmental organisations, due to its links to a broad range of economic, social and demographic issues. The United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPAF) 2007-2011 has embraced migration-related issues in its main areas of cooperation to promote the reduction of disparity and sustainable human development. The United Nations Thematic Working Group on International Migration, active since 2004, aims to implement migration-related joint activities in Thailand. Raising the profile of and facilitate better understanding on migration issues will improve the living and working conditions of migrants in Thailand in line with the UNPAF 2007-2011. The member agencies have been cooperating to create a better understanding and developing a common approach of the migration phenomena in Thailand by strengthening coordination mechanisms and information sharing among concerned United Nations agencies, in close cooperation with several Ministries of the Royal Thai Government. The Report is the result of joint collaboration among the members. The second edition (2009 report) has been prepared to review and analyze recent international migration trends and issues in Thailand. This edition is an update of the country?s migration situation report published in 2005. Many ministries and offices of the Royal Thai Government have also cooperated closely in the preparation of this report. It is our hope that this 2009 Report will provide valuable, up-to-date information that can be used in policy recommendations on international migration. Furthermore, it is anticipated that this report will be of value to the Royal Thai Government, the United Nations, international organisations and non-governmental organisations in the formulation of policies and implementation of programmes that affect the lives of displaced people, migrant workers and their children and that pave the way for effective migration management.