Briefing Document: Legal Frameworks and International Standards for Children in the Justice System

This document synthesizes the legal and procedural frameworks governing the treatment of children within Thailand's justice system, analyzed in the context of prevailing international standards. The core principle underpinning both domestic law and international conventions is the "best interests of the child," which mandates specialized, protective, and rehabilitative approaches over punitive ones.
Thailand's legal structure, primarily embodied in the Child Protection Act B.E. 2546 (2003) and the Act on Establishment of and Procedure for Juvenile and Family Court B.E. 2553 (2010), reflects a direct alignment with international instruments, most notably the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the UN Model Strategies on the Elimination of Violence against Children.