This submission is made by the Indigenous Women’s Association for Development (IWAD), Manushya Foundation and the Thai CSOs Coalition for the UPR. It examines Thailand’s compliance with its human rights obligations concerning Indigenous women and girls, particularly in light of recommendations accepted during previous UPR cycles relating to gender equality, access to justice, healthcare, and land-related rights. Thailand has accepted multiple recommendations related to the protection of women’s rights and non-discrimination under international human rights frameworks. However, implementation remains limited in practice, particularly for Indigenous women who face intersectional discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, geographic location, and socio-economic status.

 

Indigenous women in Thailand continue to face systemic barriers in the enjoyment of their rights. These barriers are rooted in structural discrimination, lack of legal recognition of Indigenous Peoples, patriarchal social norms, weak access to justice, exclusion from decision-making, and policies that fail to reflect the realities of rural and remote Indigenous communities. The continued denial of Indigenous Peoples’ legal recognition in Thailand remains a root cause of these systemic and intersecting human rights violations.

 

Methodology: This submission is based on qualitative and participatory research conducted by the Indigenous Women’s Association for Development (IWAD) and Manushya Foundation between 2019 and 2026. It draws on first-hand testimonies from Indigenous women human rights defenders, focus group discussions in Indigenous communities, and case documentation collected through field visits across multiple regions of Thailand. All testimonies are used with the informed consent of participants and reflect lived experiences across diverse Indigenous groups.

 

This submission demonstrates that Thailand has not adequately addressed structural inequalities affecting Indigenous women and is structured as follows:

• Section 2 outlines the legal and policy framework relating to Indigenous women;

• Section 3 examines the lack of citizenship among Indigenous women;

• Section 4 analyses racial discrimination faced by Indigenous women;

• Section 5 examines gender-based violence against Indigenous women;

• Section 6 examines trafficking and exploitation of Indigenous women;

• Section 7 addresses access to healthcare;

• Section 8 examines rights to land, territories, and natural resources;

• Section 9 analyses barriers to access to justice;

• Section 10 provides recommendations.

File Size: 22 MB

Submission Date: 15 April 2026