Thailand
Full country name: Kingdom of Thailand
Area: 517,000 square kilometres
Population: 57.5 million (1.4% annual growth rate)
Capital city: Bangkok (population six million)
People: 75% Thai, 11% Chinese, 3.5% Malay, also Lao, Mon, Khmer, Phuan and Karen minorities
Language: Thai
Religion: 95% Buddhism, 4% Muslim
Government: Democratic constitutional monarchy
Current Focus and Concerns
Thailand is the country where the Regional Co-ordination Office of terre des hommes Germany in Southeast Asia has been located since its establishment in 1976. Child related social welfare programmes, village development, and support to social advocacy and human rights groups, schools, hospitals and other government units mark the long involvement of TDH in Thailand.
TDH Germany also has its longest engagement in Southeast Asia with many Thai partners, which form a national network of friendship and solidarity, and are part of TDH’s Regional Partner Dialogue for Southeast Asia. After the Thai Partner Meeting held in 2000 in Chiangrai, and the more recent Regional Partner Meeting held in 2001 in Maesot, Thai partners have defined their social concerns in the following fields where projects are being implemented or will be extended.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Children should grow up to become an important force for social development. However, many Thai children are still abused and affected by various forms of domestic and social violence. Implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is therefore a major issue on the agenda of TDH partners, who will concentrate on following activities:
- Workshops about CRC.
- Documenting child rights violations for public education campaigns.
- Organising forums for children at local, regional and national levels where they can speak out about their own rights.
- Programmes for nation citizenship for children of ethnic minority groups.
- Protection of children from trafficking, prostitution and exploitative labour.
Gender
Because women in Thai society still have inferior status when compared to men, partners organisations have decided to contribute to greater gender equality though carrying out the following activities:
- Staff training for Thai NGOs (as well as guest partners from Burma and the Lao PDR) to be able to use tools to analyse and integrate gender perspectives in their work.
- Joining the campaign on End Violence Against Women Day.
- Surveys of current issues, understandings and interest in gender issues.
- Projects in rural areas which help enhance the role of women in development and society.
Bio-diversity
At present Thai partners jointly conduct the Bio-diversity and Thai Wisdom Protection Project to identify the influence of mono-culture, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and patent regulations on food security, and particularly their impact on children and women. Partners recently conducted a Local Plant Genetics Campaign Project in Bangkok and five other cities, disseminating information to help people recognise the importance of Thailand’s genetic resource heritage. They also monitor incidences of bio-piracy, and bring these to the attention of the authorities.
Area: 517,000 square kilometres
Population: 57.5 million (1.4% annual growth rate)
Capital city: Bangkok (population six million)
People: 75% Thai, 11% Chinese, 3.5% Malay, also Lao, Mon, Khmer, Phuan and Karen minorities
Language: Thai
Religion: 95% Buddhism, 4% Muslim
Government: Democratic constitutional monarchy
Current Focus and Concerns
Thailand is the country where the Regional Co-ordination Office of terre des hommes Germany in Southeast Asia has been located since its establishment in 1976. Child related social welfare programmes, village development, and support to social advocacy and human rights groups, schools, hospitals and other government units mark the long involvement of TDH in Thailand.
TDH Germany also has its longest engagement in Southeast Asia with many Thai partners, which form a national network of friendship and solidarity, and are part of TDH’s Regional Partner Dialogue for Southeast Asia. After the Thai Partner Meeting held in 2000 in Chiangrai, and the more recent Regional Partner Meeting held in 2001 in Maesot, Thai partners have defined their social concerns in the following fields where projects are being implemented or will be extended.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Children should grow up to become an important force for social development. However, many Thai children are still abused and affected by various forms of domestic and social violence. Implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is therefore a major issue on the agenda of TDH partners, who will concentrate on following activities:
- Workshops about CRC.
- Documenting child rights violations for public education campaigns.
- Organising forums for children at local, regional and national levels where they can speak out about their own rights.
- Programmes for nation citizenship for children of ethnic minority groups.
- Protection of children from trafficking, prostitution and exploitative labour.
Gender
Because women in Thai society still have inferior status when compared to men, partners organisations have decided to contribute to greater gender equality though carrying out the following activities:
- Staff training for Thai NGOs (as well as guest partners from Burma and the Lao PDR) to be able to use tools to analyse and integrate gender perspectives in their work.
- Joining the campaign on End Violence Against Women Day.
- Surveys of current issues, understandings and interest in gender issues.
- Projects in rural areas which help enhance the role of women in development and society.
Bio-diversity
At present Thai partners jointly conduct the Bio-diversity and Thai Wisdom Protection Project to identify the influence of mono-culture, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and patent regulations on food security, and particularly their impact on children and women. Partners recently conducted a Local Plant Genetics Campaign Project in Bangkok and five other cities, disseminating information to help people recognise the importance of Thailand’s genetic resource heritage. They also monitor incidences of bio-piracy, and bring these to the attention of the authorities.
