Thailand’s prison and immigration detention systems continue to fall short of international standards requiring all persons deprived of liberty to be treated with humanity and respect for their inherent dignity. Chronic overcrowding remains a structural problem, contributing to inadequate sleeping space, sanitation, access to water, bedding, nutrition, healthcare, and hygiene products. Women, LGBTIQ+ persons, refugees, asylum seekers, and persons with physical or mental health conditions face additional risks of discriminatory, degrading, or otherwise inadequate treatment.

During its 3rd UPR cycle, Thailand received five recommendations directly relevant to prison conditions and the treatment of persons deprived of liberty, all of which it supported. Thailand supported recommendations to reform the penitentiary system and ensure humane detention conditions, prevent abuse and ill-treatment by law-enforcement authorities, combat discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and provide healthcare to migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in detention centres. However, these commitments remain only partially implemented, with persistent gaps in prison conditions, healthcare, protection of detainees in vulnerable situations, and immigration detention.