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Torture and Enforced Disappearance in Thailand:
THAILAND'S THIRD UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW CYCLE
9 SEPTEMBER 2021
Thailand will be reviewed by UN Member States on all its human rights record during its Third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) taking place on 10 November 2021 at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva (39th Session of the UPR Working Group).
To tell the truth behind #WhatsHappeningInThailand and to guarantee Recommending States make SMART recommendations that will hold the Thai government accountable on its international human rights obligations and will improve the situation on the ground, Manushya Foundation, local community members of the Thai CSOs Coalition for the UPR and the Thai BHR Network, and partner Civil Society Organizations have prepared UPR Advocacy Factsheets addressing the most challenging human rights issues and providing community-led UPR recommendations to be made to the Thai government.
The UPR Factsheet on Torture and Enforced Disappearance in Thailand was prepared by Manushya Foundation, Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF), Justice for Peace Foundation (JPF), and the Duai Jay Hearty Support Group.
The UPR Factsheet examines the compliance of Thailand with the recommendations it received during its 2nd UPR cycle in relation to Torture and Enforced Disappearance in Thailand. Torture and enforced disappearance are still a regular practice in Thailand, with the numbers of torture allegations and cases of inhumane treatment staggering in recent years, widespread in the context of the Deep South and recently among prodemocracy activists during their detention. New reports of cross-border enforced disappearance have also surfaced since the last UPR review, with various Thai political exiles abducted in neighbouring Laos and Cambodia.
This factsheet indicates that the current political and legal developments violate Thailand’s international human rights obligations in the following manner:
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The legal vacuum surrounding torture and enforced disappearance in Thailand
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The increasing number of torture and enforced disappearance cases in recent years
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Ineffectiveness of the National Human Rights Commission and the National Committee for Managing Cases Related to Torture and Enforced Disappearance
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Failure to conduct prompt, effective and independent/impartial investigations into reports of torture and enforced disappearance
The UPR Fact Sheet includes community-led UPR recommendations for Recommending States to use when making their UPR recommendations to the Thai government and ensure their recommendations address the needs of local communities on the ground. It is critical for diplomats to make recommendations that are directly coming from communities to improve the human rights situation on the ground; as communities are experts of their issues: they live with the challenges and they also know the solutions they need to advance their human rights.
Learn more about our work with UN Human Rights Mechanisms (Click here)
