- On 20 September 2016, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha (Ret.), Prime Minister of Thailand attended the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees, held at the United Nations Headquarter in New York, at the invitation of President Barack Obama, to join the world’s efforts in pledging additional assistance for displaced persons. As the only ASEAN country attended, the invitation bore testimony to Thailand’s record of longstanding humanitarian assistance towards over one million displaced persons from various countries during the past four decades. 

- The additional pledges from Thailand include, inter alia, development of a screening system to reduce the risks of people falling victim of trafficking and enacting the Act on Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance to strengthen the implementation of the principle of non-refoulement.

- For about 103,000 displaced persons from Myanmar living in shelters along the border, the Government also provides education and skills training to ensure their sustainable livelihood once they return home and will issue birth certificates to all children of displaced persons. Thailand is discussing closely with the neighboring country on the voluntary return of the first pilot group of displaced persons in a manner that will ensure their well-being.

- At the Summit, the Prime Minister also called on the international community, particularly the countries of destination, to share more responsibility on this issue, as well as to give policy space to countries to act in accordance with their own local circumstances and conditions. The Prime Minister underlined importance of existing development assistance to countries of origin so that no one will have to leave their homes. Countries of transit should also be given additional financial and other assistance including on law enforcement against abuses and exploitation of displaced persons.

- Additionally, the Prime Minister highlighted the need for countries of destination to expedite the screening and resettlement process. This accelerated resettlement will not only alleviate displaced persons’ suffering, but will also reduce the burden on all relevant parties.

- In addition, he congratulated the world community for adopting the New York Declaration for Migrants and Refugees at the United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants on 19 September 2016 at the United Nations Headquarter. Attending the Summit, H.E. Don Pramudwinai, Foreign Minister of Thailand underlined the need to address the problem at its root causes, especially by providing development assistance. He also highlighted the importance of supporting first-asylum countries in the spirit of cooperation and international burden sharing. The Minister advocated inclusive participation at all level as well as promotion of public empathy to ensure that this complex problem can be solved in a sustainable manner and that no one is left behind. 

- President Obama’s Summit was attended by high-level representatives of 48 countries and four international organisations. It was a platform on which the attending countries pledged additional assistance in one or more of the following forms, namely, increasing financial assistance, allowing higher resettlement quotas and enhancing education and employment opportunities for displaced persons.