CALLING FOR A FAIR CHANCE
Unicef Thailand last week launched a new campaign highlighting the inequities faced by migrant children in Thailand, their challenges in accessing health and education services, and in completing their education. The campaign, launched with the hashtags #FightUnfair and #AChildIsAChild, calls on the public to look past the stereotypes, and to see children in migrant communities as children first, and as children who also deserve a fair chance in life. Part of the campaign is a five-minute video titled A Child Is A Child, capturing real conversations between Thai and migrant children living in Bangkok about their lives and their dreams, but also conveying the reality that too many of these children are still unable to see a doctor when they are sick, or to attend school like other children. The video includes the powerful responses of Thai children who express their hopes and wishes that these children get the same opportunities in life as they do. Although Thailand has good policies and legislation in place to provide services to all children, including those from migrant communities, in reality many of these families face multiple hurdles to accessing services. Social stigma and prejudice, the need to pay service-related costs, fear of interaction with authorities, frequent moves, and a lack of knowledge about how to access these services all contribute to these children being left out. According to a 2015-2016 survey on the situation of children and women in Thailand, conducted by the National Statistical Office, children living in families headed by a nonThai speaker, children from poor families and children whose mothers have little or no education often lag behind other children in health, education and overall development. Thai actress and Friend of Unicef Davika Hoorne called on the public to lend its support to reduce inequities among children in Thailand. Davika recently visited a migrant community near Bangkok, where she spent a day joining migrant children in a series of learning activities. “Migrant children are children. They have so much energy and a passion to learn. They truly deserve equal opportunities, just like other children,” she said. The campaign has already received widespread support from other Friends of Unicef, including Pachara Chirathivat, Vanessa Race and leading celebrities who are calling on the public to do its bit to fight inequity and to provide a fair chance for every child. To spread the word, Unicef calls on the public to share the video and its thoughts on social media using the hashtag #AChildIsAChild.