Thailand: A legal status for refugee children
In northern Thailand, Terre des Hommes supports refugee children and members of indigenous minorities. They are stateless and often denied even basic rights. Only gradually, and thanks to persistent work, is the situation improving.
Between one and two million people in Thailand are stateless. In the north, in the province of Mae Hong Son, there are far more than half of the population. It is difficult for a simple reason to appreciate their exact number: they do not exist on paper.
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Many are relatives of indigenous mountain peoples such as the Meo, the Karen, Lahu, Akha, Yao or Lisu, which were populated by generations ago. Others are children of refugees. Anyone who escapes across the border before the military dictatorship in Myanmar is often not registered. Children of refugee families who were born in Thai territory are not recognized by any government.
Although stateless children also have rights. And the Thai government recognizes this: They have the right to go to school, to be cared for in hospitals and to contact state courts. However, stateless children are often discriminated against by authorities. And there are people who take advantage of their situation. Some corrupt officials double the fee, which is due for a hospital visit. Families get involved in the black market on credit sharks, for example to pay school fees.
At the end of the year, stateless children often do not receive their graduation certificate, which would be so important for scholarships and career opportunities. "As a stateless person, it often feels as if everything works against you," Som recalls, who grew up as a child of Myanmarian refugees.
Another problem is the legal insecurity faced by stateless families. Many don't know how to defend themselves against violations of their rights, and they lack trust in the state. This is precisely where many projects supported by Terre des Hommes come in: At the Development Center for Children and Community Network (DCCN), for example, children learn what children's and human rights mean to them. This provides security and strengthens their self-confidence. And they learn how to organize themselves: in networks such as the Salween Youth Network and the Mekong Youth Assembly, which have long been politically committed to improving the rights of stateless children.
Slowly but surely, successes are being achieved. The Thai government is now expanding infrastructure in the remote project regions. Young refugees, migrants, and stateless people are living less isolated lives. Legal counseling services are being established, and authorities are being sensitized and trained. And a total of more than 32,000 children and young people have now been able to obtain legal status or even Thai citizenship through the work of Terre des Hommes and partner organizations like DCCN.
They are now role models for their communities. Many take responsibility themselves to pass on their experiences and to support stateless children.