On 11 May 2016 the Thai delegation, led by Mr. Charnchao Chaiyanukij, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, presented Thailand’s National Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report for the second cycle to the 25^th Session of the UPR Working Group in Geneva. 

In his opening statement, the Permanent Secretary reiterated Thailand’s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. Thailand has implemented various recommendations it accepted during the first cycle review in 2011. Concrete progress and outcomes include accessions to and withdrawals of several reservations to various international human rights instruments such as those related to transnational organised crimes, rights of the child, elimination of discrimination against women and persons with disabilities.   

Moreover, the government has set up and upgraded various legislative frameworks covering issues such as gender equality, justice fund, protection of vulnerable persons, criminalisation of child pornography, anti-corruption, anti-trafficking in persons as well as penitentiary reform. The government is also pushing forward to pass the draft law related to prevention of torture and enforced disappearance in line with international standard.      

During the session, 102 countries took the floor covering a wide range of human rights issues such as measures against trafficking in persons, labour rights, strengthening of human rights infrastructure, protection of human rights defenders, rights of vulnerable groups including children, women, older persons, migrants, and LGBTs, law enforcement in the Southern Borders Provinces, freedom of expression, rights to association, rights to fair trial, and constitution referendum.   

Several countries commended Thailand on its concrete progress on the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights such as group rights, anti-human trafficking efforts, MDGs achievement, universal health coverage, and gender equality, the third national human rights action plan, reform of laws, ratifications and withdrawals of reservations of human rights treaties and protocols. Concerns were expressed on freedom of expression, right to peaceful assembly, the use of military court, arbitrary detention, protection of human rights defenders, and insufficient debate and participation in the constitution drafting and referendum process.

The Thai delegation will announce recommendations it will accept at the meeting on 13 May 2016. The delegation will bring back to Thailand recommendations that require further consultation with relevant agencies and the Cabinet’s approval. Thailand can submit the list of additional accepted recommendations to the United Nations Human Rights Council by September 2016.    

UPR is a mechanism under the United Nations Human Rights Council that encourages each country to make human rights recommendations to other countries in constructive, equal and peer-to-peer manners. These recommendations also include promotion of technical cooperation on human rights among every part of the society as well as between countries and international partners