H.E Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee was appointed as Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) on 12 October 2015. His main responsibility is to support the ASEAN Secretary-General in implementing the ASCC Blueprint, and managing relations with ASEAN Dialogue Partners and the international community.

H.E Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee started his career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (1994 –2008). He served at the Departments of International Organizations, Information and Economic Affairs, dealing with global issues such as human rights, sustainable development and environment. His overseas posts included Thai Missions in Kuwait and Vienna, Austria. He was mainly known as Thailand’s chief negotiator on UN drugs and crime issues and as Advisor to the Chair of the 21st Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. He also served as Vice Chairman of the 50th Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and Alternate Governor in the Board of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In 2009, he joined Ministry of Justice of Thailand to lead a special project to develop the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners, also known as the “Bangkok Rules”. Subsequently, he was appointed as Director, Office of External Relations and Policy Coordination, Thailand Institute of Justice in 2012, in charge of promoting work on the rule of law, crime prevention and criminal justice.

At the ASEAN Secretariat, H.E Vongthep implements several initiatives to coordinate and assist ASEAN Member States, institutions associated with ASEAN, and other stakeholders (UN Agencies, Dialogue Partners, international and regional organisations, etc.) to have a deeper understanding of the policy frameworks and strategic directions under the ASEAN Vision 2025, especially the ASCC Blueprint, and synergising efforts to address challenges in implementing the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development and ASEAN Vision 2025. He also actively involves in public diplomacy programs to promote ASCC within ASEAN region and other parts of the world.