Statement by

H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand

at the High-level Segment

during the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council

27 February 2023

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Mr. President,

High Commissioner,

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

1. Allow me to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election to this important body.

2. We are meeting here today at the pivotal moment as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and 30^th anniversary of the Vienna Convention that led to the creation of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

3. The occasion calls for all of us to assess and reset, not the goals and standard of the Declaration, but the way we endeavor to apply and implement them to preserve and restore the fundamental human dignity that we deem universal. To do so, we need to address the root causes of the degradation of human rights situation around the world.

4. There are three main formidable foes to human rights: Wars, internal political and economic strife, and the triple planetary crisis. The most worrisome reality is the fact that these foes have been spreading around the world both in intensity and complexity.  The advent of social media has somehow exacerbated the binary mentality and the my-way-or-the-highway attitude, the unfound sense of entitlement, culture of impunity, and the tyranny of a few.

5. The challenges, both old and new, conventional and unconventional require us to think more progressively and innovatively how to bridge the growing disconnection between standards and reality while resisting the temptation to take measures and actions that could render us part of the problem, not the solution.

6. Equal worth of every person is the core driver of our work. Such worth is blind to any political, financial, economic, social, and racial hues. It entails equitable access to opportunities. Violence and hatred breed more of the same.  Apathy turns human right injuries into permanent damages. The right to life and human security is decimated by wars, and the reprisal of nature deprives so many lives of their livelihood.  These are some of root and associated causes of human rights deprivation.

7. The Human Rights 75 Initiative is a comprehensive response to address the challenges of our time. On our part, Thailand has strengthened our resolve in advancing the principles of freedom, equality and justice for all as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  We also pledge our support for the work of the Human Rights Council and the reinvigoration of the non-confrontational consultation process as well as well-balanced constructive dialogues and engagement with all relevant stakeholders.

8. Thailand believes that the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is an important mechanism to continuously reinvent and readjust our effort to maintain the hope of human rights. The UPR Plan of Action was recently approved by our Cabinet. It signifies Thailand’s full commitment to the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to support the universality, progress and engagement of the Human Rights Council.

9. Our Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme has been one of the most powerful tools to help ensure equitable access to healthcare services, while contributing to the efforts to address social and economic inequalities.

10. Thailand has adopted the BCG economic model as our national agenda to counter the triple planetary crises that are increasingly raising havoc with human security.

11. We also continue to further strengthen our national human rights infrastructure. Last year, the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand was re-accredited with an A status. Such development reflects our unwavering commitment to the letter and spirit of the human right declaration.  Thailand has also actively engaged in open dialogues with the OHCHR as well as Special Procedures of the HRC and other human rights related mechanisms.

Mr. President,

12. In reiterating our commitment to advance the promotion and protection of human rights nationally, regionally and globally, Thailand has decided to present its candidature for the Human Rights Council membership for the term 2025-2027. We are honoured to have been endorsed as the candidate of ASEAN and look forward to constructively and actively working with the international community to promote effectiveness and strengthen the work of the Council for the advancement of human rights for all. We will continue to be a balanced and moderate voice that seeks to garner empathy that turn challenges into opportunities and cause for hope, and not despair.

Thank you.