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Bangkok (Thailand), 14 November 2012 - UNODC and four countries in the Greater Mekong are ramping up efforts to make community policing a tool to fight child sexual exploitation.

During 13-14 November, specialists in community policing delivered training to approximately 250 people - mostly Thai community policing officers and local community leaders - in Bangkok.

Representatives from Cambodia and Viet Nam were also present.

Kicking off the training, Police Lieutenant General Pongpat Chayapan, Commissioner of the Thai Central Investigation Bureau, spoke about the need for the police officers - drawn from almost all provinces in Thailand - to connect with the community.

Mr. Gary Lewis, UNODC's Regional Representative, urged the officers present to "create a protective environment for our children. This minimizes the risk that they will be exploited or abused."

"The Police are a key element in building this protective environment," said Mr. Lewis, "but the Police cannot work in isolation. They need the support of the community."

Participants included 120 Thai Community Policing Officers, 80 Thai Community Leaders and a number of other individuals and organizations including police from Cambodia and Viet Nam. The Commanders of the Specialist Divisions of the Thai Central Investigation Bureau were also present.

The initiative was designed under Project Childhood and will deliver training - which has been jointly developed by the Royal Thai Police, UNODC and World Vision. The agenda covers child protection, children's rights and community strength.

In delivering the training agenda, UNODC and the Royal Thai Police received support from World Vision, Australian Federal Police, UNICEF, Step Ahead, Friends International and ChildLine.