Surin: A multidisciplinary team convened to address the case of a Cambodian mother and her child, focusing on providing assistance under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, regardless of their nationality or ethnicity.
According to Thai News Agency, the Surin Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office, along with the Public Prosecutor and relevant agencies, conducted a meeting to deliberate on the future of a 13-year-old Cambodian boy facing deportation. The situation arose following an emotional scene where a teacher and student embraced in tears as police intervened to remove the boy from school due to lack of legal documentation. Consequently, the authorities permitted the mother and son to reside temporarily at a children's and family home in Surin Province.
Today, at the Surin Provincial Children and Family Home, representatives from the Department of Social Development and Human Security, the Provincial Prosecutor, Surin Immigration Bureau officials, and other relevant agencies discussed measures to enable the boy to continue his education in Thailand. They also examined the potential deportation of the boy's 41-year-old mother, emphasizing that, as the child requires his mother's care, actions must comply with the 2003 Child Protection Act and Article 22 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This legislation mandates the protection of children in Thailand, irrespective of their nationality or ethnicity, ensuring their rights and well-being are upheld.
Initially, the Surin Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office, in collaboration with the Secondary Education Service Area Office 33, visited the Surin Immigration Police Station for a fact-finding mission. This visit provided legal advice and outlined assistance guidelines for the mother and child. The announcement of Article 22 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child formally recognized the rights of refugee children and asylum seekers. Additionally, the 2003 Child Protection Act was reiterated by the Surin Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office. Coordination was also made with the Surin Provincial Children and Family Home to assist with a petition for DNA testing, filed with the Provincial Juvenile and Family Court, to support legal efforts for the mother and child.