Page 30 - รายงานผลการประเมินสถานการณ์ด้านสิทธิมนุษยชนของประเทศไทย ปี 2563

draft Plan on Early Childhood Development B.E. 2563-2570 (2020-2027) by giving priority
to children who have difficulty in accessing their rights; undertaking effective measures
to curb the problems of violence and sexual abuse of children in schools by educational

personnel, including putting in place easily accessible mechanisms for complaints; and
developing effective assistance and rehabilitation for the child victims of such incidents.
At the same time, children and youth should be well informed about safe sex and the impact
of teenage pregnancies. The government may consider cooperating with non-governmental

organizations in arranging a system of giving counseling services to children and youth on
such matters.

As for the elderly group, the government and its agencies concerned have taken
measures to prepare for the ageing population to promote and protect the rights of the
elderly in a more concrete manner so that they can enjoy good quality of life. Efforts have
been made to drive forward the National Action Plan for Older Persons, which addresses
both the pre-senior group and the elderly in economic, health, environmental and social

aspects. With regard to protection of the right to work, the age of informal workers eligible
to apply for social security insurance according to Section 40 of the Social Security Act,
B.E. 2533 (1990) has been extended from 60 years to 65 years. Better access to public facilities
for the elderly was also promoted. However, some challenges remain such as arrangement
of extensive health care system for the elderly, obstacles faced by local administrative
organizations in looking after the elderly in their respective areas, and the use of violence

against the elderly. The NHRCT has already made a set of comprehensive recommendations
to the government and the agencies concerned on the promotion and protection of the rights
of older persons in various aspects as afore mentioned since April 2020. It wishes, however,
to emphasize in this report some important points on this issue. Priority should be given to the
elderly who have difficulty in accessing public welfare and adequate standard of living. The

government should consider revising existing laws and regulations which pose obstacles for local
administrative organizations in promoting the rights and quality of life for the elderly. It should
lay down policies and guidelines to reach out to the elderly who cannot help themselves
or who live in remote areas to ensure their access to health care services. Furthermore,
there should be mechanisms to monitor and address the problems of neglect, violence or
abuse of elderly people, either by family members or by other persons at the local level.

The government should take advantage of the extensive network of volunteers and
cooperate with related agencies in providing assistance to the maltreated elderly.

As regards people with disabilities, concerned agencies have taken measures
to promote their access to human rights in several aspects, including the right to adequate
standard of living. The government has increased the monthly state allowance for
children with disabilities and low-income people holding the state welfare card and
ensured easy and convenient access for people with disabilities to extensive state services at

community level through local centers. In relation to the right to work, vocational training and job

28 คณะกรรมการสิทธิมนุษยชนแห่งชาติ
National Human Rights Commission of Thailand