About Us

Who is Amnesty?

Amnesty International Thailand (also known as Amnesty Thailand and AI Thailand) is a non-governmental organisation focused on the protection of human rights in Thailand and worldwide with more than 1,000 members across Thailand. Amnesty Thailand is one of more than 50 sections that make up Amnesty International worldwide.

Amnesty International, as a whole, is an organization of more than 13 million supporters, activists and volunteers in over 150 countries, with complete independence from government, corporate and any interest group. It works to mobilise public opinion to put pressure on governments that let abuse take place. The organisation was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.

Amnesty International Thailand was established in 1993 and registered with the Thai Government ten years later in 2003 as an association. Their headquarters are located in Chatuchak, Bangkok. In 2016, Amnesty International also opened its South East Asia and Pacific Regional Office in Pathum Wan, Bangkok.

The missions of Amnesty Thailand are largely based on the protection of the Human Rights as explained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Amnesty Thailand campaigns and advocates for :

  • Economic, social and cultural rights
  • Freedom of expression, association and assembly
  • Human rights violation in Myanmar
  • End the death penalty and torture
  • Corporate responsibility
  • The protection of the rights of the refugees and migrant workers in Thailand as well as Southeast Asia
  • Making sure those responsible for human rights abuses are held accountable and victims have access to justice, truth and reparation
  • Providing Human Rights Education and Training of Trainers (TOT) for students, educators, community leaders and government officials

History

1961

A global movement for human rights begins. Lawyer Peter Benenson launches the ‘Appeal for Amnesty’ in the Observer newspaper, after two Portuguese students are jailed for raising a toast to freedom. © Guardian News and Media Limited.

1972

Amnesty launches its first campaign against torture. 12 years later, the UN votes to combat torture worldwide with the Convention against Torture in 1984. © Amnesty International Switzerland

1976

ผู้สนับสนุนแอมเนสตี้ทั่วโลกส่งจดหมายหลายแสนฉบับมายังรัฐบาลไทย เพื่อเรียกร้องให้ปล่อยตัวนักศึกษาและประชาชนที่ถูกจับจากการประท้วงในเหตุการณ์ 6 ตุลาคม 2519 นับเป็นจุดเริ่มต้นที่คนไทยเริ่มรู้จักแอมเนสตี้

1977

Amnesty is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for contributing to ‘securing the ground for freedom, for justice, and thereby also for peace in the world’. It’s recognition for the hard work and determination of Amnesty supporters across the world. © Amnesty International

1993

แอมเนสตี้ทำงานในประเทศไทยอย่างจริงจัง มีการเลือกตั้งคณะกรรมการซึ่งเป็นตัวแทนของผู้สนใจสิทธิมนุษยชนประเด็นต่างๆ ในประเทศไทยเป็นครั้งแรก

2003

แอมเนสตี้จดทะเบียนในฐานะสมาคมตามกฎหมายไทยภายใต้ชื่อ “แอมเนสตี้ อินเตอร์เนชั่นแนล ประเทศไทย”

2007

Amnesty’s long fight for freedom of expression across the world moves to the internet. Ali Sayed al-Shihabi is released after being jailed for posting pro-democracy articles online in Syria. © REUTERS/Kacper Pempel

2016

Amnesty International Thailand together with Thai Netizen Network also launched an online petition to rewrite amendments to the Computer-related Crime Act aiming to keep it in line with international laws and standards. According to Amnesty Thailand, the current bill would pose threats to civil liberties, privacy, trade secrets, and security of the internet.

Amnesty Thailand

 

Amnesty became known to the Thai people during the 6th October 1976 massacre of Thai students. After the successful campaign, more Thai people started to recognize Amnesty. After that, there were more people supporting Amnesty until the election of the Amnesty Commission in Thailand to attend the Amnesty conference in the international level in 1993. The official office was established in Thailand in 2003.

 

In Thailand, Amnesty International campaign on several human rights issues, especially the freedom of expression, the end of torture by state officials, land rights of villagers and ethnic groups, human rights defender, rights to reproductive health, including conducting human rights studies for juveniles nationwide.

Independence and Transparency

 

In the world filled with exploiting businesses and political interests, Amnesty is committed to neutrality, independence and transparency. We receive donations for human rights campaigns from ordinary people just like you. We deny funding from both the public and private sectors because the only benefit we adhere to is the human rights of all people.

 

Our important decisions comes from consultations with the board of directors representing Amnesty nationwide in order to ensure that our work truly reflects opinions of human rights advocates in Thailand.

 

Human rights are universal. Regardless of where you come from, race, religion or gender, human rights are yours, and no one can take away your rights. If you are the one who share our belief, please support our works from today.