NAME OF ORGANIZATION:

Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development,
Ministry of Social Development and Human Security

ADDRESS:

Sun Towers A, 22nd-23rd Floor
Vibhavadi Rangsit Road
Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900

E-mail: women.family@m-society.go.th
URL: women-family.go.th

HEAD OF ORGANIZATION:

Director-General

YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT:

The Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development (OWAFD) has been established by virtue of the Administrative Organization of the Stats Act (No. 5), B.E. 2545, the Royal Decree Transferring Affairs, Power and Duties of State Authorities under the Act Organizing Ministries and Department B.E. 2545 and the Ministerial Regulation Organizing the Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development B.E. 2545 on 16 October 2002 as a department under the new Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.

OWAFD acts as a national mechanism responsible for promoting gender equality and strengthening the family institution by integrating the works of the former Office of National Commission on Women’s Affairs under the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Women, Child and Youth Development Division under the Community Development Department, Ministry of Interior, and the former Department of Public Welfare, Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE:

OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS:

The Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development main objectives are as follows:
1. Develop and make recommendations to promote women’s potentials, gender equality and family’s solidarity for the security of lives and living,
2. Reinforce and develop measures and mechanism to promote women’s potentials, gender equality and family’s solidarity,
3. Provide academic and resource support for the operations of the networks to promote women’s potentials, gender equality and family’s solidarity,
4. Promote and accelerate Thailand’s implementation of the international obligations, agreements and cooperation,
5. Promote and coordinate the proceedings to protect women’s rights under the laws,
6. Research and development of knowledge on the promotion of women’s potentials, gender equality and family’s strength,
7. Set up the standards, supervise and evaluate the implementations in line with the set-up policies and measures,
8. Information networking on the promotion of women’s potentials and gender equality as well as family solidarity,
9. Other functions in relation to the mandate of the Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development or as assigned by the Minister of the Cabinet.

The Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development has functions as follows:
1. Propose to the Cabinet the policies and master plans on the promotion of women’s potentials, gender equality and family institution,
2. Set up guidelines for implementation of the approved policies and mater plans in consistence with the National Economic and Social Development Plan,
3. Coordinate, follow up and evaluate the implementation of the policies, mater plans and guidelines; and report to the Cabinet at least once a year,
4. Advise the Cabinet on the implementations of law, regulations, and government’s policies, programs and projects on the promotion of women’s potentials, gender equality and family institution,
5. Recommend to the Cabinet and the Prime Minister appropriate mechanism and measures, and propose formulation or amendment of laws and establish Thailand’s positions in the national and international arena in regard to the promotion of women’s potentials, gender equality and family institution,
6. Appoint sub-committees to assist the Commission when necessary,
7. Promote, support and assist related activities of GO and NGOs,
8. Invite government officers, employees and involved persons in government agencies to provide necessary information and documents,
9. Other information in relation to the promotion of women’s potentials, gender equality and family institution as assigned by the Cabinet.

MAIN INITIATIVES, ACTIVITIES, PROJECTS, PROGRAMMES:

1. Promotion of the women’s participation in the decision making process in local politics,
2. Promotion of gender mainstreaming,
3. Setting up and support of the Community Family Development Center,
4. Support of the One Stop Crisis Center (OSCC) for women and children in violent circumstance,
5. Campaign to promote the family institution,
6. Campaign to stop violence against women and children,
7. Organizing the first APEC Gender Focal Point Network Meeting 2003 in Khonkaen,
8. Organizing the 8th APEC Women Leaders’ Network 2003 in Chiangmai,
9. Preparation for a national report on the follow-up of Convention on the Elimination Discrimination against Women (CEDAW),
10. Development of indicators on the Status of Thai Women,
11. Monitoring the networking on the protection and assistance Thai Women in difficult circumstance overseas,
12. Joining of the Ministry’s Social Service Mobile Units in Bangkok and country-wide.