History of UNICEF in Thailand
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been working in Thailand for nearly 60 years. When we first moved to Bangkok in 1949, our efforts were focused on child health and nutrition. For example, we ran programmes to combat life-threatening and disfiguring childhood diseases such as yaws, and we helped to introduce a permanent vaccination programme for tuberculosis. Over the same period, we worked to provide clean drinking water and sanitation in rural areas and to improve child nutrition through the distribution of corn-soy milk and iodized salt. Since those early days, the situation of children in Thailand has changed dramatically, and our mandate has broadened widely to reflect this change. Current priorities include: Educational access and quality HIV/AIDS prevention and care for affected children Child health care and development Monitoring social policy Promoting child rights and mobilizing society Capacity building in the poorest districts Responding to emergencies, such as the 2004 tsunami Building awareness of Avian Influenza and how to prevent its spread As Thailand continues to change, our responses to the needs of children will also evolve. But one aspect of our work will always remain the same: our commitment to ensuring that the benefits of Thailand’s rapid and impressive development reach down to even the poorest and most vulnerable. To meet this commitment we have a staff of some 40 dedicated professionals, who are based in our Bangkok head office and in field offices around the country. They work with and through all levels of government and a huge variety of other partners, including NGOs, faith-based groups, other UN agencies and children themselves. By bringing togther the full range of those concerned with children’s rights, we get closer to the day when all children in Thailand, regardless of gender, ethnicity, socio-economic background or legal status, are able to enjoy their rights to grow up in a safe, healthy and protective environment and to reach their full potential.
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