www.iamchild.org

 The Foundation for Child Development (FCD) is a Thai non-governmental organization that aims to support child development in all its forms – body, mind and spirit. Working at the international and grassroots level, the foundation focuses on seeking – and applying – positive solutions to the challenges facing children and youth. Poverty, displacement and the effects of social change are just some of the hardships faced by many children. Relevant policies and creative programs are required to meet the needs of Thailand’s children.
The Foundation For Child Development (F.C.D.)is a non-governmental organization that aims to prevent and solve problems affecting children. It was established on March 31, 1982, and was registered as a foundation by The National Culture Committee, permission number T.248/2524. Its registration number is Bangkok 1738. In 1989, the foundation received a directive from the Ministry of Finance that declared it a public charity, number 179. It has four projects:

The FCD is committed to ensuring the present and future well being of children, and works closely with other NGOs, government agencies, community leaders, parents, and most importantly, children themselves. FCD programs and activities aim to build local capacity, and stress partnership, empowerment and sustainability. Established in 1982, the FCD was one of the first organizations in Thailand to raise and address the issue of child labour. The FCD currently runs four major projects that support child and community development.

The FCD has assisted more than 7,000 children in the last six years; completed over 40 research projects and studies; successfully advocated for revisions to Thailand’s Child Labour Protection Law; and won awards for its playgrounds and media projects.

The FCD is registered as a foundation by The National Culture Committee, permission number T248/2524. Its registration number is Bangkok 1738. In 1989, it received a directive from the Ministry of Finance that declared it a public charity, number 179.


    1. Project for the Little Hungry
    2. Mass Communication for Children Promotion Project
    3. The Child Labor Project
    4. The Family and Community Development Project

       
 

 The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

    Over the course of the twentieth century the idea and political foundation for a codified set of universal human rights developed. Towards the end of the century, a new global covenant, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (the “convention”), became the world’s most widely supported human rights treaty. Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989, the treaty has been ratified by 192 countries, and receives support from non-governmental organizations, communities, and individuals from around the world. The convention acts as a legal mechanism and benchmark for governments and citizens to safeguard and support children.

    The push for human rights has always been an individual and collective struggle. The first international acknowledgement of child rights, the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child, was issued by the League of Nations in 1924 (the League of Nations was the predecessor of today’s United Nations). The UN made a second declaration on child rights in 1948, and a third, expanded declaration, in 1959. Although these declarations signaled the international community’s intent to improve the living conditions and social recognition of children, they had no legal status. It was not until the late 1970s that work began on establishing a single legal framework to support child rights; this was a project that involved consultation with a wide range of political, religious and social groups, and took almost ten years to complete.

    Child rights are human rights, but the convention, and the declarations on which it is based, recognizes that children require special care according to their developmental capacities. The convention addresses a broad array of rights, issues, and circumstances that affect children. International standards are outlined in areas of provision (health and education), protection (social and legal services), and participation (children’s right to contribute in child-related discourse). These subjects, and their enforcement, are outlined in 54 articles or clauses (to view the convention in its entirety see: http://www.unicef.org/crc/crc.htm).

    The articles in the convention apply to all children, and situate child rights in regard to their positions as maturing individuals, and members of families and communities. States and parties that adhere to the convention, including Thailand, need to work towards bringing their national legislation in line with the convention’s contents (Article 4). They are also required to submit periodic reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child; these reports detail their progress in meeting the convention’s goals (Article 44 (1) and 44 (2)). These bodies should make their reports available to the public, and promote the convention’s contents (Articles 44 (6) and 42).



 The FCD and Child Rights

    In its programs and services, the FCD supports many of the convention’s goals. The Project for the Little Hungry provides children in Thailand’s northern provinces with needed provisions (Article 27 (1), 27 (2) and 27 (3)). Project staff work with communities to ensure that children and families have access to necessary resources and that people are aware of child rights and overall development (Articles 24 (1), 24 (2), 24 (3), 24 (4), 27 (1), 27 (2), 27 (3) and 42).

    The convention affirms that families are the primary caregivers for children (Articles 3 (2), 5, 9 (1), 14 (2), 18 (1), 18 (2) and 18 (3)). The Family and Community Development Project provides educational support and resources for Thai families. Education is an important right for children, and issues of access and content are outlined in two articles (Articles 28 (1), 28 (2), 28 (3), 29 (1) and 29 (2)). At FCD community centres, children and families can gather to share information and learn about child development.

    These centres also provide safe play areas for children. The convention recognizes the importance of play and leisure opportunities (Article 31 (1) and 31 (2)). In Bangkok, community playgrounds offer critical spaces for children amidst a dense urban environment. In designing and creating playgrounds in rural areas, the FCD respects local cultural values and traditions (Article 31 (2)). Another area in which this project supports the convention’s goals is by providing education and recreation services to children in the juvenile justice system (Articles 31 (1), 31 (2) and 40 (4)).

    The FCD has been a leading organization in Thailand in addressing issues of child labour. The Child Labour Project offers programs throughout Thailand that discourage the use of child labour, and counsel working children and families. These efforts correspond to many of the convention’s articles.

    The convention states that children should be protected from labour that unduly interferes with their health or education (Article 32 (1)); States are encouraged to enact legislation to ensure that this article is upheld (Article 32 (2)). In cases where children are working, the convention offers standards for their employment (Article 32 (2)). The FCD studies the situation of child labour, and pressures governments to take steps to prevent the economic exploitation of children.

    The FCD provides information about child labour to young workers and vulnerable communities. To help child labourers network with their peers the FCD created the Child Labour Club (Article 15 (1)). The club is composed of child labourers, and it organizes education and recreation opportunities for its members (Articles 28 (1), 31 (1) and 31 (2)).

    Staff from this project also assist child labourers that have fled unsafe and abusive employers. Many of these children are from Thailand’s rural areas, or neighbouring countries. FCD staff work to reunite these children with their families (Articles 10 (1), 10 (2), and 22 (2)). Often children who have escaped abusive employers are apprehended by Thai authorities. In these cases the FCD works to ensure that children have access to proper legal services and care facilities (Articles 19 (1), 20 (1), 22 (1), 37 (c), 39, 40 (1) and 40 (4)).

    The Mass Communication for Child Promotion Project seeks to promote child friendly media programming, and provide children with the means of creating and distributing their own media. A key element of the convention is the indivisibility of rights – this means that the whole body of child rights must be respected; thus the convention addresses issues of basic sustenance, such as access to sufficient nutrition and medical services, as well as broader considerations, such as the quality of children’s media environment. All of these issues contribute to the well-being and healthy development of children.

    Children’s right to express themselves, and access quality media (i.e. media suitable for children’s level of development and discernment) is outlined in three articles (Articles 12 (1), 12 (2), 13 (1) and 17). Children have the right to participate in discourse that affects their lives (Article 12 (1) and 12 (2)). At the same time, the convention recognizes that the consideration given to children’s views should correspond to their level of maturity (Article 12 (1)).

    Children are exposed to a variety of media. The FCD is concerned that much of the media content that children experience is directed at adult audiences. In addition to encouraging media producers to consider the interests of children, FCD staff educates children and families about critically viewing media. It is hoped that this kind of instruction will be formally incorporated in Thailand’s schools.

    The FCD also provides opportunities for children to create and distribute their own media (Article 13 (1)). In this way, children acquire skills related to designing and broadcasting media content, and are able to communicate issues that are important to them.

Towards a Broad Recognition of Child Rights

    The Convention on the Rights of the Child is an instrument designed to assist parents, communities, organizations and governments in raising healthy and responsible children. The convention recognizes the importance of all of these agents, starting with parents and families, in contributing to children’s development. The convention does not impose particular ways of raising children, but it does offer standards and principles that can be referred to when considering the many complex issues that can affect children and their guardians.

    The establishment of child rights addresses the fact that children require special care and attention. At the same time, children must respect the rights of others, and recognize their evolving role in family and community discourse. It is through the application of human rights for all people that societies experience healthy and sustainable development. In regards to children, adults can help them realize and exercise their rights. All parts of society need to work to ensure that child rights are recognized and respected, and that children benefit from the promise and content of the convention.