Page 35 - Dignity and justice for all of us our voices are heard in Thailand

Article 4

“Most important of all is that it has to begin with our

hearts – love and compassion for our fellow human
beings, children and all – to reach our objectives”

Commentary

Dr. Saisuree Chutikul
Dr. Saisuree Chutikul, an expert on children’s changed its name to the Sub-Committee on
and women’s rights, informs the interviewer Combating Trafficking, and the Sub-
that the case as cited earlier is just one of Committee on Revision of Thai Laws in
many that violates human rights. For Compliance with Constitution and the
example, in the early 1980s, five girls were Convention on the Rights of the Child,
chained to a bed in a brothel in a southern appointed by the Deputy Prime Minister,
province and were burned to death in a fire have, over the past 18 years and 11 years
one night. There is also the case of an respectively, revised and drafted many laws.
undocumented migrant girl who was For example, the Prevention and Suppression
seriously injured and hospitalized for months of Prostitution Act of 1996 has decriminalized
when, as a domestic worker, her employer adult prostitution, prohibited children in
poured a chemical liquid which was used in prostitution and increased penalties for
his factory on her body. In addition, children pimps, proprietors and those who lure victims
are continually trafficked from neighbouring into prostitution. The Measures in Prevention
countries and forced to beg on the streets and Suppression of Trafficking in Women and
of Bangkok. Children Act of 1997 was the revision of the
1928 Act, which included boys as well. The
Thailand has initiated many activities on Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking Act
combating exploitative commercial sex and of 2008 included men and many articles
trafficking, especially in women and children, contained therein are in compliance with the
since the 1980s. The original law on anti- Palermo Protocol as well as OHCHR Guidelines
trafficking in women and girls was issued in for the protection of victims using human
1928. The Sub-Committee on Combating rights bases.
Exploitative Commercial Sex, which later

Our Voices are Heard in Thailand 23