Thailand commits to child refugee rights by lifting CRC reservation

The Royal Thai Government made a significant stride in children’s rights by agreeing to withdraw its reservation on Article 22 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), with the move now guaranteeing rights to refugee children.

This decision was officially announced by the Cabinet on July 9 and is set to be formalised through the United Nations by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

UNICEF, together with the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, commended this move. Thailand signed the CRC in 1992 but had placed a reservation on Article 22. By removing this reservation, Thailand is committing to the protection of refugee children, aligning with international standards.

The government’s announcement highlighted its commitment to respecting and protecting the rights of all children without discrimination. It expressed hope that this decision will enable more effective collaboration among various stakeholders to support every child in Thailand, including refugees. UNICEF’s Representative for Thailand, Kyungsun Kim, praised the decision.

“We applaud this decision by the Royal Thai Government, a clear statement of intent that it is committed to protecting the rights of every child in Thailand. In recent decades, the country has taken great strides forward in improving the lives and advancing the rights of children but the reservation on Article 22 represented a final hurdle towards full, equal progress.

“With that hurdle now removed, UNICEF will be able to work more effectively with the government and our partners to improve the lives of all children, including refugee children. We believe that this will ultimately create a stronger and more just Thai society.”

Well-received move

Dr Najat Maalla Mjid, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, also welcomed the move.

“Children on the move are children first and foremost. They are entitled to full protection. The remarkable action taken by Thailand in withdrawing its reservation to article 22 of CRC as discussed with high representatives of the Royal Thai Government during my country visit in 2023, is a critical step to strengthen child protection and wellbeing, leaving no child behind.

“The continuing efforts by Thailand to boost all children’s safety and wellbeing in the country’s national agenda, including through enhanced policy responses, is highly welcomed.”

The government’s decision is seen as a concrete example of Thailand’s dedication to child rights, aligning with the CRC, the Universal Periodic Review, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

UNICEF and other international bodies have long advocated for this change, with significant support from multiple partners, including sister UN agencies and development organisations. Ann Skelton, Chairperson of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, commented from Geneva.

Improved lives

“We congratulate the Royal Thai Government on taking such an important step towards full rights for every child. The Committee has always supported UNICEF Thailand in its long-standing efforts to demonstrate that the reservation on Article 22 should and could be withdrawn, and it’s very gratifying to see this work come to fruition.

“We look forward to seeing this decision result in improved lives and prospects for countless children in Thailand, now and in the future.”

The journey leading to this landmark achievement began in 2019 when UNICEF and the European Union collaborated on the Closing The Gap report, advocating for the withdrawal of the reservation and working closely with the Department of Children and Youth.

Moreover, UNICEF recognises the government’s public commitments to further progress in protecting stateless and migrant children, including pledges made at the 2023 Refugee Forum to uphold the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees. As of October 2023, 171,635 children were registered as stateless in Thailand.

UNICEF remains dedicated to supporting the government in ensuring that these children’s rights are protected, enabling them to thrive and contribute positively to the nation’s future, reported Pattaya News.