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COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN'S RIGHTS CONTINUES CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF THAILAND ON COMPLIANCE WITH CONVENTION
01 October 1998
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AFTERNOON
HR/CRC/98/53
1 October 1998
The Committee on the Rights of the Child this afternoon continued its consideration of a report presented by the Government of Thailand on the country's efforts in complying with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The 12-member Thai delegation told the Committee that since the country had not ratified the 1951 Convention on Refugee Status, people entering the country, who might qualify for refugee status, were classified as illegal immigrants by Thai law.
As they considered the report, Committee experts raised further queries on such topics as the status of inter-country adoptions; child pornography; the rights of children born out of wedlock; the definition of the child; juvenile administration of justice; the status of migrant children; and the process of granting citizenship.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 2 October, it is expected to complete its consideration of the Thai report by offering its preliminary concluding observations and recommendations.
Discussion
In response to the questions raised by Committee experts this morning, the delegation said that the new Thai Constitution guaranteed a 12-year basic education as a right to each citizen. Equal opportunity for access to education for all, including children living in the remote rural areas, was also ensured by the State. Other educational opportunities were also provided by the Government beyond the compulsory education system.
Likewise, the Government had schemes to provide extra incentives to children who did not continue school and to parents who discouraged their children from pursuing their education. Some parents preferred their children to earn money through cheap or dubious labour. The incentive scheme included providing milk, lunch, uniforms and books free of charge to students who continued their studies.
In addition, the Government was giving scholarship opportunities to children whose parents were very poor or who were orphans. Since 1994, about 5,000 girls had obtained scholarships with full boarding facilities.
At present, Thailand had 50,000 schools with a student population of 16 million out of the total population that passed the 60-million mark in 1996.
The delegation further said that a national mechanism to monitor the implementation of the Convention had been set up within the police force with the creation of a unit which trained members of the police on how to interrogate and handle juvenile delinquents. The training programme also included judges and other personnel directly or indirectly involved in child affairs. In addition, the delegation stressed the need to further train practitioners, particularly, police officers, judges, and state attorneys, to better understand the principles and implications of new laws and to have correct attitudes about child rights and the seriousness of violating these rights.
With regards to displaced children and migration, the delegation said that steps had been taken to review Thailand's remaining reservations to articles 7 and 22 of the Convention. The articles deal with birth registration of any children and admission of child refugees in one's territory, respectively. Thailand's reservations were prompted by the impact of the constant and increasing influxes of displaced persons and asylum seekers from neighbouring countries. Similarly, Thailand was not a party to the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951 and its Protocol of 1997. For that reason, people entering Thailand, who might qualify for refugee status, were classified as illegal migrants by Thai law.
One of the most significant measures Thailand had undertaken to ensure the development of its children was the eighth National Social and Economic Development Plan (1997-2001) which set the framework for long-term development and participation of Thai children, the delegation went on to state. Since basic services for child survival and development were already in place for most Thai children, the Plan emphasized extending services to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and giving priority to child protection.
The delegation said that in an effort to put an end to sexual exploitation and abuse of children, two new laws had been enacted in the past two years. The prostitution prevention and suppression act of 1996 sought to treat prostitutes as victims of poverty, social problems and organized crime. The Act imposed harsh punishments on networks of organized prostitution and beneficiaries who encouraged or lured children into commercial sex trade, regardless of voluntary consent of such children.
Furthermore, the delegation said that the Government had also put into force a law for prevention and suppression of the trafficking in women and children in 1997. Conspiracy to commit an offence concerning trafficking in women and children was already a crime and was subject to punishment. Nevertheless, the new legislation provided for wider authority of officials in inspecting places unconstrained by their areas of jurisdiction.
Committee members raised further queries on such topics as the status of inter-country adoptions; child pornography; the rights of children born out of wedlock; the definition of the child; juvenile administration of justice; the status of migrant children; and the process of granting citizenship.
HR/CRC/98/53
1 October 1998
The Committee on the Rights of the Child this afternoon continued its consideration of a report presented by the Government of Thailand on the country's efforts in complying with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The 12-member Thai delegation told the Committee that since the country had not ratified the 1951 Convention on Refugee Status, people entering the country, who might qualify for refugee status, were classified as illegal immigrants by Thai law.
As they considered the report, Committee experts raised further queries on such topics as the status of inter-country adoptions; child pornography; the rights of children born out of wedlock; the definition of the child; juvenile administration of justice; the status of migrant children; and the process of granting citizenship.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 2 October, it is expected to complete its consideration of the Thai report by offering its preliminary concluding observations and recommendations.
Discussion
In response to the questions raised by Committee experts this morning, the delegation said that the new Thai Constitution guaranteed a 12-year basic education as a right to each citizen. Equal opportunity for access to education for all, including children living in the remote rural areas, was also ensured by the State. Other educational opportunities were also provided by the Government beyond the compulsory education system.
Likewise, the Government had schemes to provide extra incentives to children who did not continue school and to parents who discouraged their children from pursuing their education. Some parents preferred their children to earn money through cheap or dubious labour. The incentive scheme included providing milk, lunch, uniforms and books free of charge to students who continued their studies.
In addition, the Government was giving scholarship opportunities to children whose parents were very poor or who were orphans. Since 1994, about 5,000 girls had obtained scholarships with full boarding facilities.
At present, Thailand had 50,000 schools with a student population of 16 million out of the total population that passed the 60-million mark in 1996.
The delegation further said that a national mechanism to monitor the implementation of the Convention had been set up within the police force with the creation of a unit which trained members of the police on how to interrogate and handle juvenile delinquents. The training programme also included judges and other personnel directly or indirectly involved in child affairs. In addition, the delegation stressed the need to further train practitioners, particularly, police officers, judges, and state attorneys, to better understand the principles and implications of new laws and to have correct attitudes about child rights and the seriousness of violating these rights.
With regards to displaced children and migration, the delegation said that steps had been taken to review Thailand's remaining reservations to articles 7 and 22 of the Convention. The articles deal with birth registration of any children and admission of child refugees in one's territory, respectively. Thailand's reservations were prompted by the impact of the constant and increasing influxes of displaced persons and asylum seekers from neighbouring countries. Similarly, Thailand was not a party to the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951 and its Protocol of 1997. For that reason, people entering Thailand, who might qualify for refugee status, were classified as illegal migrants by Thai law.
One of the most significant measures Thailand had undertaken to ensure the development of its children was the eighth National Social and Economic Development Plan (1997-2001) which set the framework for long-term development and participation of Thai children, the delegation went on to state. Since basic services for child survival and development were already in place for most Thai children, the Plan emphasized extending services to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and giving priority to child protection.
The delegation said that in an effort to put an end to sexual exploitation and abuse of children, two new laws had been enacted in the past two years. The prostitution prevention and suppression act of 1996 sought to treat prostitutes as victims of poverty, social problems and organized crime. The Act imposed harsh punishments on networks of organized prostitution and beneficiaries who encouraged or lured children into commercial sex trade, regardless of voluntary consent of such children.
Furthermore, the delegation said that the Government had also put into force a law for prevention and suppression of the trafficking in women and children in 1997. Conspiracy to commit an offence concerning trafficking in women and children was already a crime and was subject to punishment. Nevertheless, the new legislation provided for wider authority of officials in inspecting places unconstrained by their areas of jurisdiction.
Committee members raised further queries on such topics as the status of inter-country adoptions; child pornography; the rights of children born out of wedlock; the definition of the child; juvenile administration of justice; the status of migrant children; and the process of granting citizenship.