The way governments decide to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic will impact the human rights of millions of people.

The Thai government should ensure that the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation (2005) to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic does not impose unwarranted restrictions on human rights, Amnesty International said today. International standards require the Thai, authorities should review their use of emergency powers to address COVID-19 to ensure they are temporary, exceptional, proportionate, necessary and non-discriminatory and are not used to arbitrarily restrict rights such as freedom of expression and freedom of information.

All governments and other actors involved in and affected by the COVID-19 outbreak must ensure that international human rights law and standards are at the centre of all responses to COVID-19, in order to best protect public health and support people who are most at risk of adverse impacts. This paper (1) examines the human rights concerns and challenges that often emerge as states respond to epidemics – with specific reference to state responses to COVID-19 – across different phases of the response, and (2) summarizes states’ human rights obligations and the key human rights laws, standards and principles that must be reflected in these responses.

In times of coronavirus and social distancing, many of us are staying at home. Here are some free things you can do from home to empower yourself to develop skills that promote equality and respect in your community and worldwide. Why not use your time wisely?

According to reports that an artist from Phuket has been arrested for posting a Facebook message alleging that he encountered no Covid-19 screening at the Suvarnabhumi Airport, Piyanut Kotsan, Director of Amnesty International Thailand says that the detention and legal action taken against those who criticize the government peacefully signifies an attempt to muzzle freedom of expression in the run up to the enforcement of the Emergency Decree. The Computer Crime Act with vague content could be subject to broad interpretation and has often been used as a tool to stymie dissenters.  

To fully appreciate conversations on China’s social media platforms, merely knowing Chinese is not enough. To evade the most extensive internet censorship system in the world, netizens have no option but to create their own vocabulary to discuss “sensitive issues”. This language keeps evolving as the government constantly adds new topics and terms that are prohibited.

Amnesty International will participate in the demonstrations on 8th March alongside women’s movements fighting for the protection and ongoing promotion of their rights

The investigation of more than 20 peaceful protesters after they held two demonstrations in Malaysia over the weekend is an alarming sign of the new government’s attitude towards human rights, Amnesty International said today.

 “Five demands! Not one less!” is a chant you hear at virtually every Hong Kong protest. And one of those demands is an independent investigation into the police’s use of force.

Many people today face a form of violence which we know as “bullying”.

Responding to a court announcement that former Hong Kong bookseller Gui Minhai has been convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison in China for “illegally providing intelligence to foreign entities”, Amnesty International’s China Researcher Patrick Poon said:

Responding to the news that Thailand’s Constitutional Court has ruled on the Election Commission’s request to dissolve the Future Forward Party, Amnesty International’s Regional Director Nicholas Bequelin said: