Message from the Country Representative
In the nearly 60 years that UNICEF has been operating in Thailand, we have seen startling improvements in the situation of children. There have been dramatic drops in the number of child deaths and massive reductions in the incidence of diseases that commonly affect children. Literacy rates have soared, far fewer children are malnourished and far more are in schools and not at work. Nonetheless, some of the problems that faced the very first UNICEF team when our Bangkok office opened in 1949 are still with us, including malnutrition, exclusion from education, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation. Too many children have missed out on the benefits of Thailand’s development – particularly the children of ethnic minorities, migrants and the very poor. Development itself and the changes that come in its wake have also brought a host of new challenges for children and young people. These include the spread of HIV/AIDS, the break up of traditional family systems and a rising toll of child deaths from road traffic and other accidents. But there are also new opportunities for children – to participate, to express themselves and to develop to their fullest potential. These have been made possible not only by economic and social development, but also by an upsurge in awareness of children’s rights and a determination among political leaders to protect them. Thailand ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992, making government accountable for its progress towards achieving child rights. But responsibility for the wellbeing of children extends to all members of society. This includes local communities, NGOs, the private sector, international organizations and the UN family, of which UNICEF is an integral part. It is our job to work together to help children take advantage of the growing commitment among policy makers and the general public to guaranteeing children’s rights to survival, development, protection and participation. This website describes UNICEF’s ongoing mission in Thailand, where we operate programmes with a combined budget of around US$ 5 million a year. It explains some of the challenges and opportunities children face and some of the work being done to help them meet those challenges and take advantage of those opportunities. We hope it will inspire you to help children, too. Tomoo Hozumi UNICEF Representative for Thailand
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