Local Voices, Global Impact: Activists Unite for Thailand’s UPR IV

Regional UPR IV Capacity-Building Workshop for Central and Eastern Thailand

BANGKOK, THAILAND  –  On 23-24 October 2025, Manushya Foundation, in partnership with Young Pride Foundation, the People’s Movement to Eliminate Discrimination (MovED), LBT Wellbeing, and the Thai Coalition for the UPR, successfully hosted its first UPR IV Capacity-Building Workshop.

This training marked the beginning of a series of 4 regional workshops taking place across Thailand between October 2025 and January 2026, bringing together activists, youth, and community leaders from every region of the country to strengthen their participation in Thailand’s upcoming Fourth Universal Period Review (UPR IV). 

The workshop gathered 76 participants of diverse backgrounds and identities from across the Central and Eastern regions. Of them, 39 identified as women (including 5 transgender women), 25 as men (including 1 transgender man), and 6 as queer or non-binary. Overall, 28 participants identified as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“Since each phase of our collective struggles is constantly changing and becoming more complex, learning together with our networks this time has been a truly meaningful way to strengthen our capacity.” - Mr. Kriangkrai Chichuang, President of the National Council of Indigenous Peoples of Thailand 

Why the UPR? 

The UPR is a unique human rights protection mechanism under the United Nations that requires states to periodically undergo a comprehensive review of their human rights record. It is also one of the most inclusive review processes, as it promotes the democratisation of participation by providing an opportunity for civil society, grassroots movements and communities to share their lived realities directly with diplomats and the international community.

As Thailand’s UPR IV will take place on 10 November 2026 at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Manushya Foundation and its partners remain fully committed to amplifying grassroots voices and establishing new routine practices that normalise community participation in UN mechanisms.

In line with this mission, the two-day workshop aimed to support participants’ meaningful and inclusive engagement in Thailand’s UPR IV by equipping them with the necessary knowledge, strategies, and tools.

Two days of passionate discussions, learning moments, and advocacy planning

The workshop began with uplifting opening remarks from Sirisak Ton Chaited (Manushya Foundation’s Board Member), Jarunee Siriphan (Director of Foundation for Action on Inclusive Rights: FAIR), Best Chitsanupong Nithiwana (Founder & Executive Director of Young Pride Foundation), Kusuma Janmoon (LBT Wellbeing). 

Following the opening session, Emilie Palamy Pradichit, Founder and Executive Director of Manushya Foundation, led the training. She began by providing a clear overview of the UN Human Rights Mechanisms system, before focusing on the UPR and its significance for grassroot movements and communities on the ground. Emilie emphasised why and how the UPR is the best UN Mechanism to bring visibility to local communities' issues so that they can speak their truth and directly tell the world #WhatsHappeningInThailand. She also reflected on past successes that were made possible

thanks to advocacy efforts during the previous UPR cycle, including Thailand’s adoption of the Marriage Equality Act in 2024.

“The UPR process would be meaningless without our presence. The world needs to hear the truth from us.” - Emilie Palamy Pradichit

The afternoon session focused on how to best engage with the UPR process. Participants learned how civil society organisations and communities can collaborate before, during, and after the UPR review to influence its outcomes and ensure that their recommendations translate into real change on the ground. 

To see more pictures of day 1, access our blog ‘REGIONAL UPR CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP IN BANGKOK (23-24 October 2025)’, available here.

The second day built upon this foundation by linking Thailand’s UPR IV with other past and upcoming UN Treaty Body reviews, such as the ICCPR review also scheduled for 2026. Participants learned how these interconnected mechanisms can reinforce each other and sustain long-term advocacy goals. But this second training day was all about action, as participants started working on their own UPR Thematic Reports. By dividing themselves into 11 thematic groups, participants covered the following critical human rights issues in Thailand:

• Women, Health, and Violence;

• LGBTQIA+ rights;

• Political Rights and Media Rights;

• Disability Rights;

• Children’s Rights;

• Refugees’ Rights;

• Rights of Ethnic Groups and Indigenous Peoples;

• Rights of service workers and sex workers;

• Rights of Drug Users;

• Labor Rights;

• Human Rights Abuses by Private Companies.

Following the framework provided during the training, each thematic group was able to identify the main aspects of each issue and draft preliminary recommendations.

“State officials should have the courage to exercise their discretion under the law to protect fellow human beings, and the government should establish new regulations that allow officials to assist refugees with pride—without fear of punishment. Because refugees are human beings just like us, they deserve rights, safety, and the opportunity to live a life of dignity.” - Mr. Chatchai Amornlerdwattana, Peace Rights Foundation

Above all, a strong sense of intersectionality emerged. After each group presented its findings, it was clear that many issues overlapped, such as the critical absence of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law, limited access to universal healthcare, and weak enforcement of existing laws. This reflected how solidarity across movements is essential in achieving justice.

To see more pictures of Day 2, access our blog ‘#PeoplePower ✊ #UPRThailand 📣 It’s a wrap on our 2025 #UPR Capacity-Building Workshop in Bangkok’, available here.  

Activism Centred in Self-Care

Throughout the workshop, participants also made time and space for collective wellbeing and relaxation thanks to the activities facilitated by LBT Wellbeing. From massage tools to mandala colouring, these wellbeing sessions reminded participants that self-care is not a luxury but self-preservation and that activism without wellbeing, care, and solidarity cannot thrive.

To see more wellbeing moments from the workshop, check out our post here.

The First Step of the UPR Journey

Manushya Foundation is deeply thankful to all the partners that made this workshop possible and were fundamental in building a safe, inclusive, and impactful workshop. A huge thank you also to all participants that joined us and made this workshop a fulfilling and memorable experience, and to all those who couldn’t participate in person but continuously support our advocacy work virtually. We are grateful to have been involved in supporting community members and Thai youth to speak their truth to power and shed light on what’s really happening in Thailand and we look forward to continuing this journey for human rights across the country.

“Joining this forum was like arming ourselves with knowledge. Even though the weapon was starting to become dull, when we came together, we practiced and sharpened it, realising that there are mechanisms that can be used to protect our rights.” - Ms. Aonkanlaya Pichaaon, Women’s Health Network, Pathum Thani Province

Want to see more moments from the workshop?

Check out Manushya’s social media for more photos and highlights from each day!