Thailand Law Library

by Thailand Lawyer

Chapter 5: Child’s Safety Protectors

In carrying out welfare assistance, safety protection, and behaviour promotion of the child in accordance with the Act or other laws, if a competent official deems it fit to appoint a safety protector for any child, the competent official shall submit a request to the Permanent secretary or the Provincial Governor, as the case may be, to appoint a competent official, social worker or a willing and suitable person to be the child’s safety protector, with or without specifying the place of residence of the child who is under care of the safety protector.

In the case where a child has been released from the care and guardianship of a remand home, welfare centre, safety protection centre and development and rehabilitation centre, if there is an appropriate reason, the guardian of the child’s safety may submit a request to the Permanent Secretary or the Provincial Governor, as the case may be, to appoint a competent official, social worker or a willing and suitable person to be the child’s safety protector.

The appointment of a safety protector shall be valid for a period not exceeding two years per term.

A child’s safety protector has the authority and duties as follows:

1. To visit, give advice, recommendations or cautions to a child under supervision regarding the child’s behaviour, education and occupation;
2. To visit, give advice and recommendations to the guardian of the child under supervision regarding matters of child care and discipline;
3. To prepare reports and recommendations concerning the living conditions of the child and the child’s guardian for submission to the Permanent Secretary, Provincial Governor, competent official, guardian of the child’s safety, the Committee, the Bangkok Metropolitan Child Protection Committee or the Provincial Child Protection Committee, as the case may be, for further action.

The guardian of a child’s safety or a child’s safety protector are forbidden to disclose the name, surname, picture or any information regarding the child and the child’s guardian in a manner which is likely to be detrimental to the reputation, esteem or entitlements of the child.

The provisions under paragraph one, shall apply mutatis mutandis to a competent official, social worker, psychologist or person having the duty to protect a child's safety according to Article 24, who has come into the possession of such information as a result of the performance of his or her duties.

It is forbidden for any person to advertise or disseminate by means of the mass media or any other form of information technology the disclosed information in violation of the provisions under paragraphs one or two.