The Role of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyapha to The United Nations

This article was written by group 6 in , as part of the .

Biography

Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha is the first grandchild of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit of Thailand, and she is the first daughter of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn or Crown Prince of Thailand and Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali. Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha graduated with a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Cornell University and a Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD) from Cornell University in the Gender Equality in the United States of America of America.The Kamlangjai Project,(2012).Biography Retrieved 15 July 2012

Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha’s social role

On completion of her doctorate, Princess Bajrakitiyabha worked for some time at the Thai Permanent mission to the United Nations in New York City, before returning to Thailand . In September 2006 she was appointed Attorney of the Office of the Attorney General in Bangkok, and she is currently appointed to the Office of the Attorney General of Udonthani province.The Attorney General of Udonthani province,(2006).Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha will serve as Attorney of the Office of the Attorney-General Retrieved 14 Sep 2012 She established the “Kamlangjai” or “Inspire” project to ensure that female and pregnant inmates in prisons are given adequate assistance and preparation so that they integrate well to society after they are released. She is also working on a project called “Enhancing lives of Female Inmates” (ELFI), which proposes new rules on the treatment of women prisoners and non-custodial measures for women offenders as a supplement to the 1955 Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,(2012).Enhancing Life of Female Inmates Retrieved 14 Sep 2012 Another project that the princess is taking care of is called Friend in need of PA or Princess Pa foundation. Her mother, Princess Soamsavali and the princess founded the foundation in 1995 when there was a big flood in Bangkok. This foundation aims to help poor people in rural areas and people affected by natural disasters.

On 1 October 2012 Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha will become ambassador to Austria . The princess will replace Mr. Somsak Suriyawong. The princess is currently Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna, after having worked for the public prosecutor attached to the Office of the Attorney-General, which she has also served as chairwoman since December 2011. The ministry has decided to give the post of Thai envoy to Austria to the princess, who will complete her one-year term at the commission in December 2012.Ambassador to Austria,(2012).Princess to be Thai envoy to Austria Retrieved 14 Sep 2012

Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha’s role in the “Enhancing Life of Female Inmates” (ELFI) project

Assistance to women prisoners has spread around the world. Thailand is honored to bethe driving force requiring the minimum standards. Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha played a key role in drafting and presenting the United Nations Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Female Offenders, under the name “Enhancing Life of Female inmates” (ELFI) and Bangkok Rule which would be recognised to the international agreement and was inspired by Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyapha’s ELFI project.

The Thai Ministry of Justice is responsible for the “ELFI” project to bring the issue of the problems encountered by pregnant detainees and detainee’s children to the international community and to improve standard procedures for their treatment because of the gaps in the government’s support.The Free Library,(2009).Thai princess comes to the aid of female inmates Retrieved 17 July 2012

Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha has a strong personal desire in justice processes and activities, particularly those related to the issue of human rights. The ELFI project stems from the Kamlangjai Project (Support and Encouragement) which was established on 31 October 2006 with the amount of 300,000 bahts (or €6,382.23: the exchange rate of 47.0055) from her Royal purse.The Kamlangjai Project,(2012). Pregnant Inmates and Children of Imprisoned Mothers Project Retrieved 15 July 2012 It is based on the premise that in today’s changing world, the issues of women in prison have become more complex. Thailand is inviting the international community to use the original Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Offenders (SMR) as a base to develop a more comprehensive set of standards specifically geared toward female offenders.ELFI,(2012).ELFI’s story Retrieved 17 July 2012

The SMR was adopted by the United Nations in 1955 and although appropriate for male offenders, it is not adequate for the gender-specific needs and realities of female offenders. The lack of specific standards, which serve as a guide to those developing correctional policy and operating facilities where women are housed, is especially important when dealing with pregnant women and those with children attached to them.The Free Library,(2009).Thai princess comes to the aid of female inmates Retrieved 17 July 2012

Thailand has the world’s largest population of female offenders, at 28,450.

“The existing rules and regulations are somewhat incompatible with the administration of women prisons.” , “Female inmates generally have specific and often different needs from their male counterparts and most correctional systems are not equipped with the necessary facilities and services for female offenders.” said Vitaya Suriyawong, deputy director general of the Office of Justice Affairs.The Free Library,(2009).Thai princess comes to the aid of female inmates Retrieved 17 July 2012

Therefore, the ELFI project is important to develop a treatment of women inmates with a focus on women prisoners’s issue in the penitentiary system and to improve performance standards. Every country should have, like Thailand, the same standard development to the female inmates.

“As the UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador on the UNIFEM Violence against women#Say NO .E2.80.93 United NationsiTE to End Violence against Women Programme in Thailand, I am committed to support Thailand’s and UNIFEM’s advocacy efforts, to help deliver key messages to end violence against women and girls to the Thai public, and to inspire youth and the younger generation on gender equality and ending violence against women and girls. I will continue to draw synergies between key partners and their programmes and projects, including the “Kamlangjai project” under my initiation and with support of many key organisations, in an effort to upscale and sustain ending violence against women and girls as an important issue on the national agenda”, Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha said in November 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand.The Kamlangjai Project,(2012).Say no to Violence Against Women Retrieved 15 July 2012

In July 2010, UNIFEM, which is part of UN system, is merged to become UN Women.The UN Women,(2010).http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/about-un-women/… Retrieved 18 July 2012

The Bangkok Rules as initiated by Thailand resulted from the ELFI project under the initiative and guidance of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha, which aimed to supplement the existing standard of the 1955 United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, by introducing a female gender perspective.Royal Thai Embassy. Singapore,(2011).The United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders or the “Bangkok Rules” adopted at the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Retrieved 17 July 2012

See also

• Female Juvenile Offenders
• Center for Justice and International Law

References

Group 6

The members of Current Economic Problems and Issues are:

1. Miss Wattanee Vitechongjaroen
2. Miss Kusuma Rodcham
3. Miss Nutnicha Traitrakullerd
4. Miss Suphitcha Kengwicheanchai
5. Miss Kanlaya Limouychai
6. Miss Darunwan Panya
7. Miss Wiriya Ponsamart
8. Mr. Pich Vajropala