Asylum Seekers and Refugees InThailand:
THAILAND'S THIRD UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW CYCLE
 9 SEPTEMBER 2021

Thailand will be reviewed by UN Member States on all its human rights record during its Third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) taking place on 10 November 2021 at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva (39th Session of the UPR Working Group).

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To tell the truth behind #WhatsHappeningInThailand and to guarantee Recommending States make SMART recommendations that will hold the Thai government accountable on its international human rights obligations and will improve the situation on the ground, Manushya Foundation, local community members of the Thai CSOs Coalition for the UPR and the Thai BHR Network, and partner Civil Society Organizations have prepared UPR Advocacy Factsheets addressing the most challenging human rights issues and providing community-led UPR recommendations to be made to the Thai government.

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The UPR Factsheet concerning Asylum Seekers & Refugees was prepared by Fortify Rights on the basis of their Joint NGO Submission with Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network, Asylum Access Thailand, People Empowerment Foundation, Refugee Rights Litigation Project.

The UPR Factsheet examines the compliance of Thailand with the recommendations it received during its 2nd UPR cycle in relation to Asylum Seekers & Refugees in Thailand. During the 2nd UPR Cycle, Thailand received eight recommendations relevant to refugees and asylum seekers, including recommendations to ratify the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol and provide legal status to refugees, abide by the principle of non-refoulement, and end the arbitrary detention of refugees. Other recommendations relevant to refugees included addressing human trafficking, ensuring birth registration of all children born on Thai territory, improving access to health, education, and social welfare for all, and improving labor rights and migration laws.

This factsheet indicates that the current political and legal developments violate Thailand’s international human rights obligations in relation to Asylum Seekers & Refugees in the following manner:

• Thailand lacks a legal framework to provide legal status to refugees

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• Refugees in Thailand are subject to refoulement

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• Thai authorities continue to arbitrarily arrest and detain refugees, including refugee children, in immigration detention centers and government-run shelters

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The UPR Factsheet includes community-led UPR recommendations for Recommending States to use when making their UPR recommendations to the Thai government and ensure their recommendations address the needs of local communities on the ground. It is critical for diplomats to make recommendations that are directly coming from communities to improve the human rights situation on the ground; as communities are experts of their issues: they live with the challenges and they also know the solutions they need to advance their human rights.

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Learn more about our work with UN Human Rights Mechanisms (Click here)