up! teamed up with the NGOs Love146 and Urban Light to complete a research to further understand the experiences of street-connected children and youth in Chiang Mai.

This study aims to understand these children’s and youth realities and needs to be able to best serve and support them, and may be used as a baseline survey by all interested stakeholders. We hope that the results will support NGOs working in this field and with these groups, as well as interest the authorities in view of addressing the issues faced by street-connected children and youth.

Social workers interviewed 28 males, 25 females and two transgender persons living and/or working on the street.  Our findings reveals a high prevalence of sexual violence among street-involved youth in Chiang Mai.  Notably, a higher prevalence of sexual violence is found among males respondents, in comparison with female respondents.  Some key findings are highlighted below:

• 54% of males and 29% of females citing sexual touching by adults.

• 29% of males and 9% of females cite instances in which they had been forced to have sex against their wishes.

• 56% of males, 26% of females, and both transgendered respondents were engaged in commercial sex

• Ethnicity and being a survivor of sexual abuse are indicated as potential special risk factors toward commercial sexual exploitation and drug use.

• Living on the street is an additional aspect that increases risks of exposure to all types of violence, including peer and police violence

The full report is available in English and in Thai here:  “To Help My Parents “(English) / “To Help My Parents” (Thai).