Ms. Catarina de Albuquerque, Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), completed her official visit to Thailand during 1-8 February 2013, upon the invitation of the Royal Thai Government. The objectives of the visit were to witness the situation of access to safe drinking water and sanitation in the country, and to learn the good practices and challenges of Thailand on the matter.

During her visit, the Special Rapporteur met with representatives of relevant government agencies, state enterprises, and civil society. She also traveled to Chiang Mai Province to discuss with local authorities and visited the Royal Project Foundation. A briefing on the preliminary findings of the Special Rapporteur’s visit for the Thai agencies and a press conference for the media were organized on
8 February 2013.

Recognizing that the right to safe drinking water and sanitation is a basic human right, the Royal Thai Government spares no efforts in promoting access to safe drinking water and sanitation, which is allocated on a non-discriminatory basis. Thailand is fully aware that challenges remain but emphasizes that such challenges may be due to implementation gaps. Thailand stands ready to carefully consider the Special Rapporteur’s constructive recommendations as a way to improve the situation on the ground.

Moreover, Thailand has always supported the exchange of lessons learned and good practices in the promotion and protection of human rights.  During the visit, the Special Rapporteur had many opportunities to learn about good practices in Thailand on promoting and protecting the right to safe drinking water and sanitation.  It is our hope that the Special Rapporteur can share our good practices with other countries as a way for Thailand to contribute to enhancing the capacity of other States. 

Lastly, the Royal Thai Government is committed to cooperating with the United Nations in the promotion and protection of human rights for all groups. During the presentation of its first report under the Universal Periodic Review of the HRC in October 2011, Thailand made a voluntary pledge that it would issue a standing invitation to all the special procedures of the HRC to visit the country. The visit of the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation thus signifies the Royal Thai Government’s commitment to promoting access safe drinking water and sanitation. It also underscores the close cooperation between the HRC and Thailand, as a member of the HRC for the term 2010 – 2013 and a candidate for the term 2015 – 2017.