In a Devex article by Rebecca L. Root, Manushya’s Founder & Executive Director Emilie Palamy Pradichit reveals how the cuts gutted life-saving protection systems for the growing number of repressed activists and citizen journalists. “When the USAID funding cuts came in, it became a question of life or death. There were several activists, including citizen journalists, who we were not able to protect right away,” Emilie Palamy said. At Manushya, the suspension of US funding fo

🌐 A feminist digital future is possible, BUT only if it is rooted in justice. On 23 April, our Founder and Executive Director, Emilie Palamy Pradichit, spoke at the panel “Digital Rights, Gender Equity and Youth Protection in ASEAN’s Digital Transformation,” moderated by Angela Romano from the University of Queensland. As part of a leadership training for emerging Southeast Asian women leaders in digital transformation, the panel brought together feminist voices with one sha

In this interview, Saluai Hantale, a Chao Lay Indigenous woman activist from Koh Lipe and member of the Indigenous Women's Network of Thailand (IWNT) and Indigenous Women’s Association for Development (IWAD), speaks with Manushya about being sued for defending her community’s ancestral land. Koh Lipe is often seen as one of Thailand’s most beautiful island destinations. But behind the image of paradise, Chao Lay Indigenous sea peoples face land grabbing, blocked access to fis

This Friday, Meta will remove end-to-end encryption from Instagram DMs. Mark Zuckerberg's company said that this is due to low opt-in rates. It is true that Instagram was never built for private communications, but for activists, grassroots organisers, queer support networks, mutual aid groups, and community campaigns, Instagram IS the infrastructure. Telling people to "just move to Signal" ignores the fact that you cannot move a decade of community building overnight. The pe

A truly feminist Crimes Against Humanity Treaty must do more than name violence. It must change who gets to shape justice. ⚖️ At Women Deliver 2026, our Founder and Executive Director, Emilie Palamy Pradichit powerfully moderated the discussion, “Building the Vision: Feminist Pathways to a Crimes Against Humanity Treaty”. Emilie Palamy grounded the room in what is at stake: “This could become the first opportunity to challenge and confront colonialism within international cri

On 27 April, Manushya Foundation was honoured to join the King’s Day Reception at the invitation of H.E. Remco van Wijngaarden, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Thailand. Manushya was represented by feminist activists Tanruthai Thanrut, our Admin and Finance Officer, and Jo Badong, our Communications Manager, in this celebration of togetherness and connection. As decolonial and intersectional feminists, our work challenging repression across borders and the shrinking of civic

Just days before it was due to begin in Lusaka and online, RightsCon 2026 was called off after Zambian authorities moved to “postpone” the conference, with officials citing the need for alignment with “national values,” policy priorities, and public interest considerations. RightsCon organizers later confirmed that the event would not proceed in Zambia or online and advised registered participants not to travel. We at Manushya Foundation are angered by this cancellation. For

On 29 April 2023, Anousa “Jack” Luangsuphom, a young Lao democracy activist speaking truth to power through online platforms like Power by Keyboard (ຂັບເຄື່ອນດ້ວຍຄີບອດ) 📱, was shot in the mouth and chest at point-blank range in a Vientiane café. Three years later, Lao authorities still deflect and hide behind convenient stories of “romantic” or “business” conflicts, while suspects walk free and no one has been held accountable. ⚖️❌ Let us be clear: this was not an isolated a

We’re so proud to be here at Women Deliver 2026 in Naarm (Melbourne), represented by our Founder and Executive Director Emilie Palamy Pradichit and our Programmes Manager Ester Pisey James. Day 1 of Women Deliver 2026 was already a beautiful reminder that feminist solidarity knows no borders. We were so glad to connect with fellow defenders from across the Global South: including LGBTIQ+ rights advocate Best from Young Pride Foundation (Young Pride Club), fierce feminist Rebe

A reminder for Lesbian Visibility Day: Being seen is not enough. We must refuse the erasure, silence, and violence that lesbians, sapphic women, and queer people still face even within progressive spaces.🧡🤍🩷 📢 As Pim, a queer woman human rights defender, reminds us: activist and political spaces must ALSO confront the lesbophobia, misogyny, and exclusion that too often push lesbian voices to the margins. As decolonial and intersectional feminists, we affirm how lesbians h

Happy Weekend! 🩷 Ease into the weekend with these feminist self-care ideas from our recent UPR Submissions Workshop in Bangkok: 🪷 Siamese fortune sticks (เซียมซี) for reflection and grounding 🤲 Traditional folk massage using local wooden tools 🎨 Mandala colouring for rest and stillness 🎶 Kalimba (thumb piano) playing to slow things down 💅 Nail painting and bead-making (small joys, big care) 🌱 Sharing our worries, hopes, and dreams through our collective care tree Wellb

On this International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace 🕊️, we’re reminded that meaningful global cooperation must shift power and be rooted in justice, equity, and accountability. 🌸 We’re incredibly proud that next week, our Founder and Executive Director, Emilie Palamy Pradichit, will moderate a powerful session at Women Deliver 2026 in Narrm (Melbourne). Drawing from her deep experience in grassroots-led international accountability, Emilie will help hold s

A system that exploits people will exploit the planet. Across Thailand, women-led communities who have stewarded land and water for generations are being pushed out, silenced, and harmed. This is what patriarchal and extractive systems do: they treat both people and the planet as disposable in the name of profit, control, so-called “development”, and false climate solutions. From: Phichit villagers facing water contamination, air pollution, and health impacts from gold mining

📱 Our digital spaces are becoming the new frontline of transnational repression. The UN should not be giving it legal cover. Join us ONLINE at RightsCon 2026, as Manushya Foundation hosts “𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙐𝙉 𝘾𝙮𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙏𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙮 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙖”. A bold conversation on how the language of “cybersecurity” is increasingly being used to justify surveillance, censorship, and cro

As Thailand’s new year water holidays come up, this is a reminder that traditional “fun” is never a valid excuse to bypass consent or violate bodily autonomy. Whether it’s unwanted splashing, forced powder-smearing, or sexual harassment, we must call it what it is: a violation of boundaries and human rights. As decolonial and intersectional feminists, we urge everyone to center consent and dignity this Songkran and every other day. The water stops where someone’s boundaries b