The Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding
on the Determination of Measures and Approaches
Alternative to Detention of Children in Immigration Detention Centers
Monday, 21 January 2019, 10.00 hours
Outer Santi Maitri Building, the Government House, Bangkok
On 21 January 2019, H.E. General Prawit Wongsuwon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Thailand, presided over the Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Determination of Measures and Approaches Alternative to Detention of Children in Immigration Detention Centers. The MoU was signed by heads and representatives of seven government agencies; namely, the Royal Thai Police, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Labour.
The conclusion of the MoU is the outcome from the participation by H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand at the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees on 20 September 2017 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. On this occasion, the Prime Minister pledged to adhere to non-detention of children in the Immigration Detention Centres by considering the best interests of the child and obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), particularly in the protection of illegal migrant children.
General Prawit Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense has assigned the Office of National Security Council as the focal agency in coordinating with related government agencies to implement the said pledge and international obligations into concrete outcome. This has resulted in the drafting of the MoU on alternative to detention for migrant children, which was approved by the Prime Minister of Thailand on 21 November 2018 and the signing ceremony of the MoU today.
The objective of the MoU is to determine responsibilities and provide guidelines for related government agencies in integrating procedures on non-detention of migrant children in an effective and systematic manner. It reaffirms the Royal Thai Government’s endeavor and intention to assist and protect migrant children while taking into account the best interests of the child.
The signing of the MoU clearly demonstrates the Royal Thai Government’s commitment to fulfill its pledge in promoting and protecting human rights through whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach and in partnership with the international community.
Bureau of the Internal Security Strategy
Office of the National Security Council, Thailand
21 January 2019
