When it comes to protecting children, no law can be too strong. Thailand’s Cabinet has approved an amendment to the criminal code that will mete out harsher punishments to those found guilty of abusing or exploiting children online.

The amendment, drafted by the Justice Ministry, increases the severity of penalties for five offenses: online grooming, sexting, sextortion, cyberstalking and cyberbullying. The new provisions make prison sentences longer and fines higher for each of the offenses.

The government has been implementing a variety of measures to strengthen protections for children, especially online. They cover legal issues, prevention programs, awareness raising and counseling and support for vulnerable children and victims of abuse.

In 2024, a report published by UNICEF, Interpol and ECPAT (End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism) estimated that 400,000 children in Thailand aged 12-17 fell victim to online sexual exploitation and abuse in 2021, equivalent to 9 percent of children in the country.

“Online risk and harm is an extremely challenging issue as it can happen to any child, anywhere, at any time,” said Kyungsun Kim, UNICEF Representative for Thailand.

“We need to work as one and be ahead of the game. That means strengthening our efforts to raise awareness among children and young people, robust legislation and enforcement, and comprehensive child protection and support services to combat these horrific harms online against children,” Kim said.

Three to four decades ago, as tourism to Thailand began to flourish, pedophiles often chose the Kingdom as a destination because of Thailand’s lack of awareness and lax law enforcement. But as the problem gained attention, the response across all sectors strengthened and now tourists targeting children generally avoid Thailand.

But during that same period, the internet and social media exploded in use and popularity, opening up new avenues and opportunities for those who try to abuse and exploit children. That has created challenges for many governments, including Thailand’s government, who are racing to catch up to and counter the new tactics used by offenders.

Photo: https://www.unicef.org/thailand/press-releases/thai-government-and-unicef-step-efforts-curb-disturbing-rise-child-online-sexual