Understanding violence, militarisation, and the struggle for self-determination #FreePatani ✊ On this International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, we honour those whose lives have been altered by conflict in Thailand’s Deep South. For over two decades, the region has endured protracted violence and militarisation, a burden borne heavily by local communities and women sustaining life amid crisis. But reducing Patani to a narrativ

⚖️ On 14 July, Thailand’s Cabinet greenlit a draft deportation regulation designed to expel foreign nationals “without delay” and without legal protections. But when speed replaces due process, lives of human rights defenders are destroyed. As Manushya Foundation’s Founder Emilie Palamy Pradichit reminds us: “Laws do not choose between protection and punishment; people do.” The Thai government is making a choice: 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙩 𝙪𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙡 𝙙�

An authoritarian superpower seeking to silence its critics abroad needs to look no further than Thailand for a model partner-in-transnational repression. 🇹🇭🤝🇨🇳 Right now, Chinese human rights defenders and UNHCR-recognised refugees Bai Zhaodong and Zhou Junyi remain detained in Bangkok, within arm’s reach of the regime they fled. Their forced return will expose them to torture and enforced disappearance. Thailand has a choice: protect human rights defenders, or cement it

#SaveChaoLay! On the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, we lay bare how the tourism industry of Koh Lao, Thailand profits off compounding violence against the Moken peoples who call it home. In this interview, Naowwanit Chaemphit, an Indigenous woman human rights defender and community leader, exposes how the tourism industry of Koh Lao, Thailand profits off compounding violence against the Moken peoples who call it home. She joined Manushya’s workshop, “Tur

The second day of our workshop, "From Evidence to Action: Strategic Advocacy for the UPR IV & ICCPR Reviews of Thailand", was all about shifting power. We moved from drafting factsheets to gearing up frontline human rights defenders to engage directly with diplomats. Best Chitsanupong Nithiwana, Founder of Young Pride Foundation and trans woman human rights defender, put it best about activists coming together from across Thailand: “For too long, access to diplomats has been

As the next step in our journey towards Thailand’s UPR IV this November, we gathered over 50 human rights defenders from across the country on 21 July for Day 1 of "From Evidence to Action: Strategic Advocacy for the UPR IV & ICCPR Reviews of Thailand". 🇹🇭 We built a #PeopleLedUPRMovement. We submitted the evidence. Now, it’s time to make the UN listen. Together, we are turning local evidence, lived realities, and community demands into sharp advocacy factsheets for high-le

On 11 June 2026, the Court of Appeal ruled that ISOC (Internal Security Operations Command) is liable for a smear campaign that targeted human rights defenders Angkhana Neelapaijit and Anchana Heemmina for years. It found ISOC had the authority to manage the website where the false content was published, and ordered it to pay 120,000 baht to Angkhana and 90,000 baht to Anchana, plus removal of the offending content. ISOC was ordered to pay compensation to both women and remov

In the name of attracting investors, the Land Bridge and draft SEC Act will carve up Southern Thailand for deep-sea ports, railways, and motorways. While communities in Ranong, Chumphon, and across the South are left to carry the real cost, without meaningful participation in decisions over their own lives and lands. Land seized. Seas disrupted. Livelihoods destroyed. Biodiversity threatened. Communities sidelined. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡. 𝙏

Thailand and Vietnam's leaders are turning diplomacy into a crackdown on activists. Today, 28 May, during To Lam’s official visit to Thailand, both leaders in a joint statement committed that neither country would allow its territory to be used for political activities against the other. They also pledged to strengthen extradition cooperation to suppress transnational dissent. In a region where authoritarian governments already hunt critics across borders, this is a dangerous

A victory for freedom of expression in Thailand! 🇹🇭 Today, the Thai Criminal Court dismissed the royal defamation and cybercrime charges against Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, founder of the progressive Future Forward movement and a key figure in Thailand’s pro-democracy struggle. The case came from his 2021 livestream criticizing the government’s mishandling of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and its unfair favouring of Siam Bioscience, a company owned by King Maha ​Vajiralon

On 13 February, a self-proclaimed spiritual healer known as “Lung Sanom” from Angthong, Central Thailand 🇹🇭 was caught sexually harassing several women who sought him out for healing. But what is equally disturbing is the wave of victim-blaming that followed. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗲: first through the shaman who exploited them, then by the public who blamed them for their beliefs. Instead of holding the perpetr

🇹🇭 The People of Thailand are enraged ‼️ After the Election Commission denies the recount petition in Chon Buri arguing “lack of corruption evidence”, youth leaders organized a multi-sectoral protest in front of the Bangkok Art & Culture Center. Once again, the EC chooses to be conveniently blind to numerous election-related violations in what is now widely considered as “the most corrupt national elections in Thailand’s history”. As young feminist defender Pim clamours, Do

Experienced election fraud in your voting precinct? Take power back. Report it now! 🗳️ A public complaint desk has been set up to compile cases and submit them to the Elections Commission (EC). If they won’t do their job, the people will. If you witnessed intimidation, irregularities, blocked access, vote manipulation, or other election violations, don’t let it disappear into silence. Demand justice! ✊ Report election-related violations here: bit.ly/RecountNow #WeAreManushya

Today, Thai citizens across different generations and backgrounds came together to stage an election protest in front of the Elections Commission (EC) Headquarters. Led by the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration who also spearheaded the historic youth protests in 2020. ‼️ Their demand: A recount from the controversy-filled national elections where a party led by military coup supporters supposedly dominated. 🔥 EC stated they will come out with a decision in 2 days. B

In a week marked by what many call the most corrupt national elections in the country’s history, people in Thailand turned out and voted Yes to replace the 2017 Constitution, a charter born from military junta rule. THAT’S People Power and resistance! The overwhelming YES vote is a clear declaration from the people: We are tired of politics controlled by dynasties, junta-linked leaders, and elite interests. We need a Constitution BY the People, FOR the People NOW! 🔥 ⚖️ 𝗧𝗵�