Page 80 - Dignity and justice for all of us our voices are heard in Thailand
P. 80
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Two orphan girls, age 16
Chiang Rai province
Voice
“We should have the Two 16-year-old orphan girls in Chiang Rai province describe their childhood experience as
right to education, follows: “We drifted from living with one relative to another before we were placed under the
guardianship of a Christian orphanage. We both lived in the orphanage for many years but did
love, shelter, access not possess Thai identity cards.”
to medicine, food Each girl now has identity papers issued by the Ministry of Interior that certify their status as
and warmth like stateless people living in Thailand. With these documents, both of them are allowed to enrol in
everyone else” school.
“Despite one of us being a top student, as stateless people, we have never been eligible for
official academic recognition. I was the only one in the classroom with no Thai identification
card. Sometimes I felt very sad and depressed for not being awarded a scholarship,” one of the
girls explains.
When they were asked about the definition of ‘human rights’, both girls said, “We should have
the right to education, love, shelter, access to medicine, food and warmth like everyone else.”
68 Dignity and Justice for All of Us
