The research can identify gaps in where further surveys are needed, as well as collect detailed case studies according to the different types of legal status and documentation problems encountered.
"Research on the Situation of Birth Registration
and Legal Status of Tsunami-affected
Persons"
Organizations providing assistance to affected persons in Thailand
in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami realized that some victims
lacked identification documentation, including birth and/or
delivery certificates, and were denied the realization of other
human rights. Over the past year, such organizations have attempted
to resolve these problems by searching through available personal
records, coordinating on civil registration issues with the
Department of Provincial Administration, and holding meetings with
relevant government agencies and others to examine policies and
propose means for providing documentation, including birth
documentation, to all affected persons.
However, the achievement of solving the problems for the target
group is incomparable when we talk about the problem of population
explosion revealed in the data base of so many private
organizations that have collected those records before. Therefore,
by conducting in-depth analysis of the data which has already been
collected by NGOs on tsunami-affected persons in the six provinces,
further research can identify gaps in where further surveys are
needed, as well as collect detailed case studies according to the
different types of legal status and documentation problems
encountered. This is going to make us see the whole picture of
those problems, especially the problem of lack of access to birth
documentation and personal status in law. This will allow
recommendations and next steps on guidelines for assisting such
different types of problems encountered, as well as indicate what
parts of Thai law should be improved in order to ensure that such
persons are able to obtain legal status and
documentation.