Thailand needs to accept all UPR recommendations in line with its international obligations!

#WhatsHappeningInThailand 🇹🇭 Last week, Thailand was finally held accountable in front of the whole world for its human rights violations and mistreatment of marginalized groups! Delegations from 100 countries scrutinized Thailand's human rights record and gave recommendations that address important human rights issues in the country. How did the Government respond? Read more below 👇🏽

📍 During its 3rd UPR review, the most important human rights country review Thailand goes through, the Government received 278 recommendations on a broad range of issues such as LGBTIQ / SOGIESC rights (sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, sexual characteristics), freedom of expression online and offline, freedom of association and assembly, the death penalty and protection of human rights defenders. 🚨 While the Government accepted more than half of them, it still hasn't approved some of the most crucial recommendations. Which ones?

🛑 The Government has so far ignored recommendations concerning the protection of civic space in relation to the draft law on not-for-profit organizations from February 2021. If passed, this law will be detrimental to NGOs in Thailand which might not be allowed to operate or receive foreign funding. Read our analysis on the draft law.

🏳️‍🌈 While receiving 12 recommendations on LGBTI rights, the Thai government accepted only 7 recommendations aiming at the protection of persons from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, and did not make any concrete commitments on 5 UPR recommendations from France, Iceland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, calling for the recognition of same-sex marriage and the enactment of a legal gender recognition law. Significantly, the UPR review happened only a week before the disappointing verdict by the Constitutional Court ruling that Section 1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code that allows marriage between a man and a woman only, is not unconstitutional. Read more here.

🚨 In probably the most disappointing move, the Thai Government has also not supported any recommendations aiming at the revision or abolition of Section 112 of the Criminal Code, to put an end to the inhumane lese majeste.

❓ How did it justify its return to the absolute monarchy? As the Thai delegation was responding to recommendations and comments of other countries in Geneva, in Bangkok, the Constitutional Court issued a shocking verdict deeming any protest actions against Section 112 an attempt to overthrow the democratic system with the King as the head of state. This is a devastating moment for all protesters and activists fighting for true democracy!

Where do we go from here?

Our democracy is under attack and it's more important than ever to hold the Government to the promises and commitments it made in front of the UN and the whole world.

✔️ We need concrete solutions and monitoring mechanisms that will oversee the implementation of the commitments made at the UPR.

✔️ The Government needs to accept all recommendations that include its existing obligations under international human rights law.

✔️ The UPR process is a moment when the Government should reflect on its actions. The world stands with us - pro-democracy protesters, human rights defenders, LGBTIQ+ persons, grassroots communities, and many more!

#WeAreManushyan - Equal Human Beings

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👉🏼 Are you satisfied with the recommendations Thailand received? Let us know in the comments!

👉🏼 Read "Everything You Need to Know about #WhatsHappeningInThailand", the report we prepared ahead of the Thailand UPR III on the 24 most pressing human rights issues in our country! Access here.