Questions/Answers

Solving the problem of Thai statelessness in Udon Thani Municipality is to help resolve the poverty of 1255 underprivileged people, most of who migrated from areas of less economic growth to live in the municipality. All citizens need to have their own 13-digit identification card. Without an ID card, they lack the opportunity to access basic government services such as educational and healthcare and risk being tempted into trafficking. These causes lead to other problems such as crime, drugs, and prostitution. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights realizes that human trafficking is an international crime and an important world issue. Udon Thani Municipality brought the royal speech of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on February 18, 2001 as an inspiration to solve problems under the nationality law. The Civil Registration Office was responsible and integrated effectively between the government sector, private and public sectors.They helped 1,237 Thai statelessness people from 2008 to 2016. Problems and obstacles to implementation were that most Thai statelessness had no witnesses to prove their Thai nationality. Some 2.10% of respondents did not have money to check their DNA with Thai relatives. As the result, the municipality solved problems by providing a partnership with government sector, private and public sectors to prove that the applicant is Thai. The resolving problem associated with the sufficiency economy philosophy of King Bhumibol Adulyadej is with Thai statelessness people. The program focused on the people are centered of development in order to help Thai statelessness people, they could live their lives with self-sufficiency, and sustainability. This program is consistent with The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To solve the problem of Thai statelessness in the municipality, the municipality has started to survey Thai statelessness in 2008, and found there were 1,255 people. There were 782 females and 473 males. Most were children between 0-15 years old, totaling 891 people, who are at risk of being tempted into trafficking. The problem has been solved by the municipality, but it is delayed because of poverty. They have to look after themselves and their families and have no time to contact officials. In addition, most Thai statelessness lacks documentary evidence to prove their Thai nationality. In 2008, the municipality introduced innovative solutions to solve the problem of Thai statelessness in order to solve the problem throughout all communities in the municipality. Eventually, Thai statelessness received Thai citizenship and legal identity cards. They could use it to apply for access to basic needs from government agencies and to improve their quality of life.

The municipality changed its original working procedures to proactive work by assigning the Civil Registration Division and the identification card to directly solve the problem of Thai statelessness. The four staff members visited the 103 community leaders under the Mobile Municipality Program. This is a project that included 10 affiliated offices in the municipality and 4 public sectors. Udon Thani Polytechnic College, Non-formal education and informal education centers, Niranrat Thammarat Beauty Salon, and Udon Thani Technical College all provided public service activities to the people in the community once a month to acknowledge the problems and people's needs in the community. This included issues of poverty and disadvantage as well as knowledge of the law of residence registration, identification cards, citizenship law and complaints channels at the call center, Udoncity Hotline, Udon Thani Municipality Website, www.udoncity.go.th, E-mail:Udoncity@udoncity.go.th, Facebook, http.//www.facebook.com/udoncity, Page 1132 Udoncity Hotline, application @ UdonThani, Tel. No. 042-325176-85 and No. 1132, and evaluated by the Research and Development Institute of Udon Thani Rajabhat University once a year.

The municipality provided public participation among 103 village leaders to investigate and find solutions for Thai statelessness. Brainstorming is conducted to help people without Thai citizenship in the village and to set up a solution project. In order to improve the PDCA process, the good governance concept is applied by focusing on registration law, identification cards, and nationality law. The officers work according to the ethics of the municipality and help everybody without discrimination. For convenience, the people are enabled to get information on the website of the municipality and check required documents including procedures, time, and fees on the notification board. If the person lives in another province, the officer can coordinate the Registration Section to approve nationality so that cost and time can be reduced.

The officers meet the people in 103 villages to prove and identify the person with out Thai citizenship. In the case of lacking documentary proof and witnesses, the municipality will ask for budget for DNA proof from the Office of Justice of Udon Thani, the Department of the Interior, and the Ministry of Justice. The results and photos of the one who gets Thai citizenship will be posted on the board at the municipality office and in the community office. This brings transparency to the citizen approval process.

According to 2017 TIP Report of America, Thailand is ranked into the tier 20 watch list. It reveals that Thai statelessness and non - identified persons are targets of human trafficking in Thailand. If the problem goes unresolved, the severe effect will continue in the long term. The problem not only affects the targeted, but also their future children. Social problems can become inevitable. Persons who get Thai citizenship can get basic educational opportunities and contribute towards country development. This initiative will decrease crimes and promote peace into the village.

Solving problems of the Thai statelessness is an innovative service in the government sector. The innovation is in accordance with the human management strategy approved by the Cabinet on January 18, 2005. The innovation aims to give fundamental rights to 1,255 people and Thai statelessness in terms of education and health care. The solution is based on the public services so that they can help each other and this leads to sustainable development in the village. Increasing the standard of public services is a way to promote the policy of the government, called Thailand 4.0. Its emphasis is to move Thailand towards being a more prosperous, stable, and sustainable country. The movement also corresponds with the ASEAN Human Right Body AHRB which supports and protects human rights in ASEAN countries.

During 2008 to 2016, the initiative of solution for Thai statelessness in Udon Thani Municipality was reformed in order to make it more effective. In the previous time, the process was delayed because of Thai stateless people’s poverty and time, poorly organized processes, connection among government sector, private sector and public sector, and the officers’ attitude toward the service. The officers just stayed at the office so they could help only the people who came to the office. If they had no documentation evidence or witness, they were not able to get Thai nationality. Therefore, the municipality and the 103 community leaders set the new model of the solution. Thai statelessness who have lived in the community for a long time but they were not able to find any documentation evidence or witness to prove and identify themselves, the four Civil Registration officers, community leaders and people in the community would discuss this issue in community meetings. Then they voted for identifying the people. This initiative not only helped the people in terms of cost and time, but also provided the opportunity of involvement in solving problems.

Three essential resources used to implement the initiative were as follows: 1.Human Capital. The human capital consists of the municipality staff, the 103 community leaders and people in the community. The municipal staff needed to have good knowledge of Nationality Law and coordinate with public sector institutions, private sectors and public sectors. The 103 community leaders surveyed the Thai statelessness in the communities and coordinated with the municipality to help them. The leaders set the community meetings and discussed with the people in the communities in order to identify that they were born in Thailand. Then, they could obtain Thai nationality in accordance with the nationality law. 2.Organization Capital. The organization capital supported the initiative of the solution for Thai statelessness and the DNA proving budget. The organization capital consists of 1) public sector institutions, 2) local administration (Udon Thani Municipality), 3) private sectors (Bangkok Hospital Udon, North Eastern Wattana Hospital, and Aek Udon International Hospital), 4) public sectors (the 103 community committees) and 5) the community (Thai statelessness families and people in the community). 3.Intellectual Capital. The officers and the 103 community leaders needed to be proficient in Registration and Identification Card Law and Nationality Law.

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The municipality publicized the initiative on Sangbaanpangmueang Journal and Mak Khaeng Journal, on website www.udoncity.go.th, on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/udoncity, on Page 1132 udoncity Hotline, on mobile application @Nakhonudonthani and hotline number 1132. This can be the inspiration for other public sectors which have responsibility for solving the problem of Thai statelessness. They could apply this initiative to use in their areas. In 2017, the four public sector institutions the municipality visited and made observations of the initiative. They could then apply the initiative to help the Thai statelessness to get the Identification Card. In addition, the public sector participated in this initiative in accordance with the Good Governance concept. Besides, the municipality applied the initiative to use for taking care of the elderly, HIV/AIDS patients and disabled people in the Udon Thani Municipality area. The 103 community leaders surveyed and investigated the information about these people in their own areas. Then, all documents were collected and submitted to the municipality. After the process was completed, the municipality got the number of each group; 14,074 elderly, 1,695 disabled and 185 HIV/AIDS patients. As a result, the municipality provided fundamental welfare for them.

The municipality focuses on people-centered solutions for Thai statelessness. The initiative is sustainable for developing many aspects. On social aspect, the municipality provides nationality and fundamental rights in public health project to 1,237 Thais. They can be covered with the 30-baht universal coverage program. The 748 children have opportunities to study in 12 affiliated schools in Udon Thani Provincial Office and Non-formal and Informal Education Centers. Underprivileged persons received housing with the help from Udon Thani of Social Development and Human Security Office. Besides, the municipality bought the land in the city which covered the area of 17 rai and provided it for underprivileged persons. The 452 places of the land would be used for housing assistance. They paid only 1 baht a day for renting and got a loan from Community Organizations Development Institute (Public Organization) CODI. This could help persons who had ability to afford the houses payment of only 1,800 baht a month. The Division of Social Welfare of Udon Thani Municipality registered the elderly so that they would get 600-1,000 baht and the disabled would get 800 baht a month from the government. They would have greatly improved job opportunities after receiving the identification card. They will have income to support themselves and their families in accordance with the minimum wage rate (300 baht per day). The improved opportunities of society, education, occupation, living standard will lead them realize working for public and a better environment in their communities. Obviously, the collaboration of all sectors to solve the problem presents the hospitality and culture of Thai people. In conclusion, the initiative supports the development of society, economy and environment and it is not good advantages only for Thai statelessness but also our country and the world.

The civil registration office belongs to the municipality and is responsible for addressing the problem of Thai statelessness by collaborating with 103 leaders of communities who are assigned as the volunteers of registration and identification card services in each community. The collaboration integrates public participation as leaders and people in the communities learn to solve problems themselves, forming a learning environment and capacity to manage or prevent problems that may occur. Furthermore, the office is also in a cooperation with government offices, 2,439 registration offices around Thailand and the private sector in order to address the problem. In promising to provide their best service, government offices are ready to commit with the municipality to overcome the problems because the people are at the center of their work. To sustain the solutions for the problem of Thai statelessness, the municipality educates the community leaders and authorities on the issue. The office launched a project to annually train volunteers about Thailand’s nationality law with the aim of transferring their knowledge and solutions to the problem to communities. Registration officers are also trained regularly in the registration and identification card field. Moreover, administrative committees and active municipality officers have together established ‘values’ for the municipality to reinforce best practice and attitudes to the people.

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Solving the problems had been formally evaluated in 3 stages, as follows: Pre Implementation Stage Evaluation Before the project started, it was found that 1,255 Thais without nationality had been living a hard life, lacked access to public services for themselves and their families, lacked knowledge of birth notification resulting in undocumented children in civil registration because the children could not afford an identification card for themselves. For this reason, the municipality began the project to address the problem and had 103 leaders of communities and community members involved with the project. During Implementation Stage Evaluation Some obstacles arose for stateless people had no witnesses in the area, DNA tests were required and since most of the stateless people were poor and could not afford it, municipality assigned local register offices to make a preliminary examination of witnesses and to provide a budget for the DNA testing of stateless people. Post Implementation Stage Evaluation As an outcome of the project, the problem was solved. 1,237 people received Thai nationality from 2008 to 2016 and could access public services as a Thai citizen.

The evaluation outcomes illustrated that the problem solving process was developed and it allowed formerly stateless Thais to access public services thoroughly and equally by integrating a key process—the collaboration of 103 communities. With the cooperation of the communities, volunteers for registrations and identification card services covered the target area in the municipality. The 4 more ways to investigate documents and witnesses were 1) having a community for certifying 2) collaborating with network for witness investigation 3) on-site services for collecting evidence and investigating witnesses 4) DNA testing. As a consequence of the project during 2008 to 2016, the number of Thai people who received Thai nationality was 1,237 or 98.59%, and 92.40% in the citizen survey of 2016 reported high satisfaction with the services of the Civil Registration Office. 100% of these underprivileged people could finally join the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS, also known as the 30-Baht Scheme). 748 of children and youth (83.95%) could get educational rights: 418 of them were accepted to study in municipality schools and 330 attended non-formal education centers.

The environmental indicators (context) The environmental indicators reflected the population’s problems and needs. It was thus resolved to render underprivileged persons with nationality. Factor indicators or resources (input) Officers managed the project properly, had potential of public services and collaborated with public, private and population sectors inside and outside the areas. Process indicators (Process) The process was conducted according to the plans which emphasized on convenience, quick, and transparency for the population and it caused participation between related association network and population in the community. Product indicators (Product) Output: The problem-solving process of Thai statelessness was improved to access services thoroughly and equally. Outcome: Within 2016 not less than 80 percent of Thai statelessness had been granted Thai nationality and people who participated in the project were satisfied by services which were not less than 80. Impact: Within 2016 not less than 80 percent of Juveniles without Thai nationality could access the fundamental rights in compulsory education and not less than 90 percent of persons without Thai nationality could access fundamental rights in public health services.

Municipality takes a promotional strategy for Participatory Governance and Networking on integration from public, private and population sectors as follows: 1.The Municipality appoints 130 community leaders as civil registration and identification services volunteers in order to survey persons without Thai nationality in the communities and arrange a to verify as a Thai. 2.The Municipal Department of Education surveys children without Thai nationality in 12 affiliated schools to collect documents and investigate witnesses including teachers for consideration and approval for Thai nationality. 3.The Municipality writes letters for cooperation with 2,439 local registration offices which assist Thai statelessness. They assist in verifying documents for accuracy and invite witnesses to give testimony that a parent or relatives of stateless Thai is a Thai and submit the documents to the municipality to use as evidence for consideration and approval for Thai nationality. 4.In the case of Thai statelessness who are underprivileged, they must get a DNA test from a parent or relatives whose nationality is Thai. If lacking budget for DNA testing, the municipality will write letters for cooperation with Udon Thani Justice Provincial Office and Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior for support for DNA testing. Then, there are 26 people who have received budget for DNA testing. 5.The municipality writes a letter for cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University to send persons without Thai nationality to have DNA testing. 6.Institute of Research and Development, Udon Thani Rajabhat University assesses the official results of the resolution once a year. According to the assessment of 2008 to 2016, the municipality and public, private and population sectors assisted 1,237 people without Thai nationality (98.59 %) and 18 people (1.41 %) are being on the process under the nationality law.

Municipality takes a promotional strategy for Participatory Governance and Networking on integration from public, private and population sectors as follows: 1.The Municipality appoints 130 community leaders as civil registration and identification services volunteers in order to survey persons without Thai nationality in the communities and arrange a to verify as a Thai. 2.The Municipal Department of Education surveys children without Thai nationality in 12 affiliated schools to collect documents and investigate witnesses including teachers for consideration and approval for Thai nationality. 3.The Municipality writes letters for cooperation with 2,439 local registration offices which assist Thai statelessness. They assist in verifying documents for accuracy and invite witnesses to give testimony that a parent or relatives of stateless Thai is a Thai and submit the documents to the municipality to use as evidence for consideration and approval for Thai nationality. 4.In the case of Thai statelessness who are underprivileged, they must get a DNA test from a parent or relatives whose nationality is Thai. If lacking budget for DNA testing, the municipality will write letters for cooperation with Udon Thani Justice Provincial Office and Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior for support for DNA testing. Then, there are 26 people who have received budget for