Chonburi has become the latest Thai province to begin using the UNICEF Thailand Child-Protection Monitoring System to identify children needing special care and monitor welfare efforts.
Pattaya Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn chaired a March 11 training session for the CPMS with representatives from 22 neighborhoods and lecturers from Mahidol University’s nutrition program.
Nisarat Nanthawan Na Ayuthaya from the Institute of Nutrition at Mahidol University gives a talk on ‘What is Child Protection’ in a workshop to increase awareness of the need for child protection.
Attendees learned to analyze information collected by the CPMS in other Thai provinces and participate in activities to teach them to use the system to monitor children.
Participants also listened to lectures on the meaning of child protection; negligence, torture and exploitation; and social responsibility from a trio of Mahidol lecturers.
Launched in 2006 by UNICEF Thailand in the tsunami-hit provinces of Phuket, Phangnga, Krabi, Ranong, Satun and Trang, the CPMS program expanded to Suphanburi, Ubon Ratchathani and Songkla in 2008, and Chiang Mai, Payao, Kanchanaburi and Suphanburi last year.
This year, the program begins in Chonburi, Udon Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Sakon and Chumporn. In Chonburi, four cities are targeted: Pattaya, Surasak, Nonghong, and Wat Suwan.
The Ministry of Social Development has allocated 16.3 million baht to all the programs, helping the public point out children requiring protection and special care or children in risky family environments.
