On 19 March 2009, Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered introductory remarks at a briefing for members of the diplomatic corps on the “Drafted United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders” at Naradhip Auditorium, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The gist of his remarks is as follows:
The project reflects the Royal Thai Government’s firm commitment to promoting and protecting human rights and security as well as criminal justice for all people, particularly women who deserve special attention and care. Thailand would make every effort to ensure that improvement in the condition of women is widely undertaken. Thailand has been developing its criminal justice system to improve the status and welfare of women prisoners and their children.
This project is an initiative of Her Royal Highness Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand, who had played a very active role in the improvement of the situation of women and their children in prison. Her initiative “Kamlangjai” or “Inspire” Project has offered women prisoners counseling normally unavailable in prison on such subjects as special health, pregnancy and child care, helping raise the treatment of women prisoners to international standards. To implement the vision of Her Royal Highness, Thailand will start off by presenting the draft rules and the accompanying draft resolution at the 18th session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna in April this year. It is hoped that this proposal will help trigger a rethink in the formulation and revision of prison and correctional management policies worldwide.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th