“They Forced Me to Work”: An Exploratory Study on the Hidden Vulnerabilities of Street-Involved Children and Youth in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chris Ngugi, BA & Alezandra Russell, BA | September 19 | 3:15-4:15 pm EDT
Topic: Research, International | Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Chiang Mai is a cultural and economic hub in Southeast Asia, being Thailand’s second-largest city, and a hot spot of tourism and economic migration. Within the context of informal migration to the city, including migration due to forced movement, Chiang Mai hosts a complicated socio-economic environment, which includes the significant presence of children in street situations. These children find themselves at a confluence of vulnerability factors, including issues of legality, substance abuse, prejudice, and sexual exploitation. Structured interviews conducted by trained social workers from Urban Light, a local NGO specializing in working with vulnerable youth, were used to answer the leading research question: What are the vulnerabilities and potential resilience factors of street-involved youth in Chiang Mai, Thailand? Fifty-four (54) participants from 11 to 24 years old were interviewed, identifying as male, female, and transgender. This study employed a multidimensional vulnerability framework to examine the experiences of this population, understanding sexual violence as a key dimension of vulnerability for children in street situations. Findings indicate that 29% of males and 9% of females reported coercive sex. Males and transgender youth demonstrated particularly high susceptibility to sexual exploitation. The higher reporting of sexual violence among male-identifying participants in this study highlights the need for gender-inclusive interventions and research into specific vulnerabilities of street-involved youth across all gender identities in Chiang Mai and across a global context. This presentation concludes with recommendations for further study into the specific vulnerabilities of street-involved youth across multiple gender identities, along with policy targeting gender-inclusive interventions.
Presentation Objectives:
• Detail an understanding of the context of this study, including Chiang Mai, Thailand and children in street situations
• Provide an overview of the study, including the methodology, results, and discussion
• Discuss the implications of this research project, along with recommendations for further action