Sanphasit Koompraphant

Director

The Center for the Protection of Children's Rights

ISPCAN Preconference

G16 CHILD ABUSE IN SAUDI ARABIA… BREAKING THE SILENCE

Sanphasit Koompraphant has been changing the lives of children for more than 20 years, and was one of the first to expose the issues of child abduction, child trafficking and child prostitution in Thailand and the Mekong region. He is the Director, Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights Foundation (CPCR), Bangkok, responsible for the prevention and protection of abused and neglected children by using multidisciplinary approaches such as the setting up of multidisciplinary teams in nine major provinces in Thailand and the establishment of network of agencies in the Mae Kong Region to prevent children from being trafficked and to protect child victims of trafficking.  His accomplishments include:

Rescue Operations for Children in Abusive Situations
Under Koompraphant's leadership, CPCR became involved in combating the commercial sexual exploitation of children and began to help children who had been sexually abused or sold into prostitution. Children assisted by the organization have included non-Thai children trafficked into Thailand from Laos, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam and China.

Shelters for Children
Koompraphant and CPCR established three shelters for children rescued or released from abusive situations.

Children's Rights Network and Increased Awareness of Child Abuse
Mr. Koompraphant developed a network for children's rights comprised of child protection agencies and concerned regional governmental and non-governmental organizations in Thailand, Laos, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam and southern China. Mr. Koompraphant has organized child abuse awareness and prevention campaigns in schools, hospitals and local communities as well as regular training programs and seminars for childcare professionals.

Political Advocacy
Mr. Koompraphant has been involved in various governmental committees formed in response to the Thai government's growing recognition of human rights and the need to implement measures and laws in-line with UN conventions. Koompraphant has worked with numerous organizations concerned with child issues, including UNICEF, World Vision International, Save the Children alliances and ISPCAN. He was also chairperson of the Coordinating Committee of Human Rights, legal advisor to the Foundation for Children, member of the National Council for Youth and Development, and involved with many other organizations outside of CPCR.