Save the Children Thailand expresses deep concern over recent news of child abuse at a private orphanage in Chiang Mai. The organization calls for swift and comprehensive investigations and a review of child protection measures in orphanages nationwide. It emphasizes that children should grow up in family environments as the primary option, with institutional care being the last resort. Save the Children Thailand also proposes new measures to establish a strong child welfare system, rigorous care standards, and a responsive mechanism for addressing issues quickly. 

According to data from the Better Care Network, children raised in family settings are more likely to achieve emotional and social development, which provides a stable foundation for growth and future life. It is also noted that young children in institutional care develop three times slower than children raised in families. 

However, in cases where institutional care or shelters are necessary, Save the Children Thailand calls for strict minimum standards for childcare. This includes developing child protection policies to safeguard children from abuse and exploitation, as well as mechanisms for reporting issues that respond quickly and are supported by effective preventive measures. 

Save the Children Thailand also recommends reviewing alternative care policies to replace the need for institutionalization. Family and community-based care should be the primary approach to supporting children’s sustainable and safe development. For example, foster care is prioritized, with well-trained foster families providing quality care. Meanwhile, family support programs by offering financial and social assistance to at-risk families to prevent unnecessary institutionalization. 

Another key recommendation from Save the Children Thailand is for the Social Work Council to implement measures to assess and monitor the standards of social work services, ensuring that the work of social work professionals strictly adheres to comprehensive and rigorous guidelines. 

Guillaume Rachou, Executive Director of Save the Children Thailand, stated: “We urge all sectors to collaborate on developing policies to protect children, prevent abuse and exploitation, and establish responsive reporting mechanisms. Reviewing alternative care policies that prioritize family and community-based settings is essential to ensure that incidents like this never happen to any child in Thailand again.” 

Save the Children Thailand is committed to supporting related agencies in building a robust child welfare system that can effectively address child protection issues. By working with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and local communities, the organization aims to create a future where every child in Thailand grows up in a safe, supportive family environment. Save the Children Thailand also focuses on enhancing the capabilities of childcare staff, developing comprehensive policies to prevent rights violations and exploitation of children, and promoting family-based care and alternative systems that prioritize community-based solutions. This is to ensure that children in Thailand receive full physical, mental, and emotional development, growing up as valuable members of society.