UNICEF presents Life-Time Achievement Award to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for her contributions for children’s issues in Thailand

BANGKOK, 18 October 2018 – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) presented Life-Time Achievement Award to Her Royal Highness (HRH) Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for her significant contributions for improving the lives of children in Thailand, especially the most disadvantaged. The award was presented to Her Royal Highness by Ms. Henrietta H. Fore, UNICEF Executive Director at Chitralada Palace in Bangkok on Monday.

“I am both happy and honoured to present the UNICEF Award to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for her significant contributions and unwavering commitment for improving the lives of children in Thailand, particularly her advocacy and Royal Patronage projects on issues such as combatting iodine deficiency, promoting good nutrition for disadvantaged children, promoting literacy and education activities and her focus on marginalized groups living in remote areas,” said Fore.

Her Royal Highness leads several philanthropic organizations and foundations and has extensive interests in various fields of human development, including nutrition, health and hygiene, education, water resource development and agriculture. She has been working extensively to improve nutritional conditions of school children; supporting education, mother and child care, people with disabilities to improve their education and empowerment through the use of information technology.

In 1983, Her Royal Highness initiated projects to improve access to and quality of education for children in the remote areas and marginalized communities. Through these projects, supporting teachers, especially border patrol police teachers, were trained to ensure better learning outcomes for children. Each year, Her Royal Highness visits the Border Police Patrol schools annually to advocate for improvement in the quality of education services for stateless and ethnic minority children.

Her Royal Highness has also led an Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Project since 1990.  Combined with significant efforts by UNICEF around systematic salt iodization by salt producing companies in Thailand, Iodine Deficiency Disorder rate in primary school children has continuously been under 5 per cent.

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore presented the award to Her Royal Highness during her first visit to Thailand this week, as part of the 70 years anniversary of UNICEF in Thailand and her significant contributions to the progress made for children in this country.

Fore was in Bangkok from 13 to 17 October 2018 and as part of her official visit to the country will be meeting with the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government officials, families, children and young people. Her itinerary also includes meetings with business leaders to seek shared value partnerships with the heads of top corporate houses in the country on the business benefits of investing in children.