Human rights are inherent to every individual from birth, regardless of race, religion, or gender. Everyone is equal. The state has a duty to respect, protect, and facilitate access to these rights with dignity. Citizens, in turn, must not infringe upon the rights of others.
Since the announcement of the dissolution of parliament for the general election on May 14, 2023, political parties have been rapidly advancing their campaigns to present their policies on politics, the economy, and society with the aim of representing the public in the House of Representatives. However, it is rare to see political parties prioritize human rights issues as part of their campaign policies.
#FreeRatsadon is the flagship campaign of Amnesty International Thailand, dedicated to supporting human rights activists and providing encouragement to political prisoners. This initiative began 46 years ago, following the October 6, 1976 incident, when Amnesty International called on the international community to urge the Thai government to release political prisoners involved in the October 6 case.
Amnesty International Thailand announces its full support for ‘those who are affected by human rights violations’ in Thailand and around the globe. The organization kick off the fundraising efforts with a Face2Face fundraising program, hoping to drive policies, laws, and justice processes that are transparent, fair, and efficient according to international human rights principles.
The year 2023 may have seen a decrease in the political activism and expression of youth compared to the preceding years. However, this does not take into account the legal cases stemming from the protests in 2020, where 47 cases were sentenced to prison (data as of December 15, 2023). Some may think that the “power of youth” has waned, but Amnesty does not share this belief.
From the original protest songs of the civil rights movement to the charity singles raising money for those in need, for decades musicians have inspired change through their songs.
I feel deeply honored to stand before my dear friends and all of you today, to express my gratitude for the friendship and encouragement you have given to me and many families of the disappeared over the past years. For the families, enforced disappearances are the reminder of the injustice perpetrated by the state, which persists and is still devoid of any justice.
Ahead of the 20-year anniversary of the enforced disappearance of prominent human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit, Amnesty International’s Regional Researcher for Thailand Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong said:
On 21 September 2023, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, it was announced that Thailand would contest in the election of a member of the UN Human Rights Council or HRC for the term of 2025 – 2027, the election of which would take place in this October. It was yet again another pledge made by the Thai government on the issue as in 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a letter to inform the Secretary General of the Cabinet about the attempt to contest for the membership of the UN Human Rights Council, and a resolution was passed to acknowledged this.
OOn 16 February 2024, Amnesty International Thailand organized an event to make the announcement and offer the 2023 Media for Human Rights Awards at Barn meeting room, 1st floor, Best Western Chatuchak Hotel, Bangkok.
Responding to the recent arrest of Prachatai journalist and independent photographer on 12 February 2024 after reporting about a graffiti protest at the outer Emerald Buddha Temple on 28 March 2023, Piyanut Kotsan, Executive Director of Amnesty International Thailand, said:
Fresh evidence of deadly unlawful attacks in the occupied Gaza Strip, gathered by Amnesty International, demonstrates how Israeli forces continue to flout international humanitarian law, obliterating entire families with total impunity.