- Polwasit Lhakard
- School of Liberal Arts, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
- GAS Journal of Arts Humanities & Social Sciences (GASJAHSS)
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Abstract: Thailand has
become a member of the Convention on the Rights of the Child-CRC, which is
the United Nations’ instrument on International Human Rights Based on human
rights. It adheres to the principle of non-discrimination for the best
interests of the child, and also supports and protects the rights of the
child in four areas: the right to survival, the right to protection, the
right to development and the right to participation. Child care in a form of
family-based care is focusing on preventing children from being separated
from their families. This concept is not prevalent for Thai government and
private care institutions when compared to alternative care system in
developed countries. Therefore, the main aim of this article is to analyze
the reasons and factors leading to children being placed in the institutional
care system as well as challenges that arise, and current measures taken.
Besides, reviews of legal frameworks, policies, forms, mechanisms, and
standards for alternative care in order to increase quality and efficiency of
Thailand’s alternative care system will be presented in the article. These
will be beneficial to Thai government and non-government agencies involved in
child and youth affairs to realize challenges of implementing alternative
care in terms of both laws and policies. Moreover, the problem of
insufficient resources for good management will be discussed. All of the
suggestions proposed in this article can be used for further development of
the alternative care system for the best interests of the children in
Thailand. |
Keywords: Institutional Care System, Concept, Alternative Care Policy
