Impact Assessment of Climate Change and Environmental Degradation on Children in Thailand

The Impact Assessment of Climate Change and Environmental Degradation on Children in Thailand, authored by the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) with the support of UNICEF Thailand, highlights that the most vulnerable children to climate change risks, such as droughts, heatwaves, and floods, are those living in the Northeastern and Southern regions of Thailand. The […]

A city blind to half of its population

At the end of 2021, Bangkok had 5.52 million residents – 53% of whom (2.93 million) are women. Having just celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, and with the Bangkok gubernatorial election due in the next few months, let’s take a look at the lives and wellbeing of women in the Thai capital. According […]

Toward Universal Welfare System: Leaving No One Behind

Social welfare is not about charities for the poor. It is a crucial policy tool to bridge the wealth gap and defuse the social timebomb from Thailand’s scandalous inequalities.  We also have enough money to do it. But how? Dr Somchai Jitsuchon, Research Director of Inclusive Development and Dr Boonwara Sumano, Senior Research Fellow at […]

16 Days: Just say no to sexual violence

This Friday is not only Human Rights Day but also the last day of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual campaign that began on Nov 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. On that same day in Thailand it was revealed that one of the photographers hired […]

Measuring well-being in Thai society

Social development is like a marathon, where many run together, often for a common cause, toward a singular goal. Unlike a sprint, a marathon takes hours to finish. Outcomes of social development also take time to reveal themselves. That is why actors in the social development landscape often ask — or are asked –if they […]

New tactics to help migrant workers

It is now clear that this pandemic has hit vulnerable populations the hardest. Despite being one of the most vulnerable groups in society, migrant workers, including their family members, have been left with little care from the government. Despite helping the Thai economy for so long, there is no clear policy and little assistance to […]

Closing worker camps needs a rethink

On June 27, the government announced that accommodation for workers both inside and outside of the construction sites, building transformation sites or demolition of building sites shall be temporarily closed, while movement of workers shall be prohibited temporarily for at least thirty days.[1] The government reacted quickly in respond to the growing number of clusters of COVID-19 […]

Migrant workers must get shots too

On March 4, the Ministry of Labour planned to discuss with the Social Security Board about offering free Covid?19 vaccines to migrant workers who were insured under the social security programme. Migrant workers are vital to Thai industries and the economy; therefore, they should not be left out of the vaccination programme, said the labour […]

A ‘culture of silence’ at work is not OK

BOONWARA SUMANON ANEKSOMBOONPHON Every year on March 8, we celebrate International Women’s Day to recognise the progress we have made in women’s social, economic and political advancement. And every year, we still hear about heart-rending incidents that make us realise that we still have a long way to go towards a safer world for women […]

Abuse against women still prevalent

Boonwara Sumano In December 1999, the United Nations designated Nov 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to commemorate the murder of the Mirabal sisters, the three Dominican political activists who opposed the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in 1960. Today marks the 20th celebration of said day, and therefore it […]

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