8-9th August 2024 – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) team, led by Mr. Pio Smith, UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific; Dr. Julitta Onabanjo, Country Director of UNFPA Thailand and Representative for UNFPA Malaysia; and Ms. Siriluck Chiengwong, Head of Office of UNFPA Thailand traveled to Khon Kaen Province to advance the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action (PoA) with the focus on promoting equal access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), family planning services for all people regardless of their group, gender and age, as well as promoting maternal and child health; ending gender-based violence; and population development through the life-cycle approach to ageing using both digitalisation and technology along with traditional approach to prepare every population group to cope with the aged society in Thailand. Furthermore, there is a discussion regarding the expansion of collaboration between UNFPA Thailand and the Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University. The aim is to jointly enhance these missions through the South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC), which has been initiated between UNFPA and the Faculty of Nursing for over a decade.
In the afternoon of 8 August, the UNFPA Thailand team took part in the “Line@SoSafe” Workshop, which was organized for high school students from the Wat Klang Municipal School in Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province. Here, UNFPA team led by by Mr. Pio Smith, UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific; Dr. Julitta Onabanjo, Country Director of UNFPA Thailand and Representative for UNFPA Malaysia; and Ms. Siriluck Chiengwong, Head of Office of UNFPA Thailand, exchanged views on SRHR, teen pregnancy, body rights, gender equality and how to use “Line@SoSafe” to enhance their life especially when facing adolescent pregnancy or gender-based violence.
Later in the afternoon of the same day, the team visited the One Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC) at Khon Kaen Hospital. Mr. Pio Smith, UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific; Dr. Julitta Onabanjo, Country Director of UNFPA Thailand and Representative for UNFPA Malaysia; and Ms. Siriluck Chiengwong, Head of Office of UNFPA Thailand, learned how the survivors of gender-based violence are saved from the life-saving services when seeking assistance at the OSCC’s interdisciplinary tasks team from doctors, nurses, social workers and psychologists in coordination with CSOs, Police, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, prosecutors and law enforcement authorities.
Dr. Julitta Onabanjo, Country Director of UNFPA Thailand and Representative for UNFPA Malaysia, emphasised that UNFPA works closely with partners in all sectors worldwide, including Thailand and the Asia-Pacific region. In Thailand, UNFPA collaborates with national and local government agencies to empower young people on their sexual and reproductive health and rights, to embrace the life-cycle approach to aging, and to know how to manage and respond to gender-based violence.
“Furthermore, Thailand has expertise in midwifery and reducing adolescent pregnancy. Thanks to its high commitment to contributing to the achievement of the world’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Thailand has shared this expertise with numerous countries, including Bhutan, Lao PDR, and Timor-Leste, through the South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC). This really puts Thailand as the forefront champion of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), which commemorates its 30th anniversary this year,” said Dr. Onabanjo.
Ms. Siriluck Chiengwong, the Head of Office of UNFPA Thailand, explained that the life-cycle approach to aging is the primary concept that UNFPA Thailand employs in all of its work, including the northeastern region at this time. This concept promotes investments which ensure that every population groups of every gender, age, and group is prepared cope with the aged society’s challenges to be able to live well, age well and can engage in the activities they desire, especially the vulnerable groups for example women and girls. This investment encompasses sexual and reproductive health, as well as the safety of living in accordance with the rights and choices of each individual.
"In response to Thailand's transition to an aging society, UNFPA is now launching an innovative pilot Life-Cycle Digital Platform called “Line@SoSafe.” This project is designed to assist populations of all ages, genders and groups to be ready and adaptive to the present aged society in Thailand. SoSafe was created to serve as an alternative refuge that enhances and unites the government's efforts and increase access to existing services while providing preventions advice and relevant knowledge and information. It is prepared to provide assistance and support to all segments of the populace in resolving social issues. This platform contains chatbots that can receive notifications about various social issues such as unplanned pregnancy, sexual harassment, and domestic violence. In Khon Kaen Province, which is one of the 15 pilot provinces, Line@SoSafe’ is now ready for service and the relevant local authorities were trained to use the application to support their work. In the near future, we will extend the coverage of SoSafe to encompass all of Thailand,” Ms. Siriluck revealed.
Mr. Boonyarit Panitrungreung, Deputy Mayor of Khon Kaen Municipality, stated that Line@SoSafe is a technology and innovation that UNFPA Thailand has introduced to youth in Khon Kaen Province. It is a tool to assist when facing adolescent pregnancy, gender-based violence, and domestic violence. He is convinced that SoSafe will play a significant role in the future, particularly for the current generation of young people and adolescents who are well-versed in technology.
"Today, schoolchildren in Khon Kaen province are learning to use Line@SoSafe to request assistance, obtain information, and receive benefits when confronted with social issues, particularly when encountering gender-based violence or teenage pregnancy. I am very optimistic and am confident that this collaboration at the local level will be connected to the future assistance of all citizens at the national level,” Mr. Boonyarit expresses.
Dr. Wallapa Bunpromma, Head of One Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC) at Khon Kaen Hospital revealed that the center currently provides support to survivors of gender-based violence, with an emphasis on life-saving services and survivor-centred approach. A significant number of women, girls, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and vulnerable groups receive services at the centre. In order to establish a society that is entirely free of gender-based violence, he is of the opinion that Thailand must be proactive and enhance coordination among working agencies.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Somjit Muangpin, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Services of the Faculty of Nursing at Khon Kaen University, discussed the collaboration between the Faculty of Nursing and UNFPA Thailand. The two organizations have collaborated in many initiatives through the South-South and Triangular Cooperation including midwifery the promotion of maternal health to developing countries like Bhutan, Laos PDR and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. In the future, the collaboration will expand to the promotion of sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, a life-cycle approach to ageing and healthy ageing.
"Thailand’s Northeastern region will accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by ensuring that the population has a high quality of life and is in good health. The Faculty of Nursing and UNFPA Thailand will persist in their collaborative efforts to establish a healthy aging society and assist Thailand in moving forward to a healthy aging. The United Nations defines healthy aging as developing and maintaining the functional abilities that enable well-being in older age. Based on this, we believe that Thailand has the capacity to assist older persons for a healthy life,” stated Asst. Prof. Dr. Somjit.
UNFPA Thailand is currently implementing its 12th Country Programme in partnership with the Thai government and multiple sectors in Thailand. The focus of its efforts in the South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) is to support countries to achieve UNFPA's Three Transformative Results, which include ensuring universal access to family planning services, eliminating avoidable maternal deaths, and putting an end to gender-based violence. In Thailand, UNFPA focuses on implementing the life-cycle approach to aging, which aims to prepare all population groups for the transition into an aging society. These missions are the paths to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Thailand by 2030.
See more photo: UNFPA visits Thailand’s Northeast to advance ICPD30
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