• OPINION

  Fight for the right to clean environment

  News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 11/09/2023

  » A year ago, the international community was heartened by the UN General Assembly's proclamation of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human right to be enjoyed by all, universally. In essence, what does the right mean?

• OPINION

  Beating scams, trafficking no easy task

  News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 01/09/2022

  » This region has been in the news in recent weeks in regard to online scams and human trafficking, compounded by other forms of exploitation such as forced labour and forced criminality.

• OPINION

  UN General Assembly must assert itself

  Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 20/04/2022

  » The recent vote in the UN General Assembly (GA) suspending Russia from the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), due to its conduct in Ukraine, in early April 2022 is a rare instance of the GA asserting its powers with binding force. Generally, only the UN Security Council (SC) can adopt measures; these are exemplified by sanctions adopted by the SC periodically against errant states, non-government armed groups and individuals. Is there then room for a more assertive GA, especially when the SC is dysfunctional?

• OPINION

  Protecting rights of kids who protest

  Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 06/10/2021

  » One of the most disturbing issues in Thai society today is the number of children (under 18 years of age) who have been arrested and prosecuted for participating in political demonstrations. The most obvious incidents are the protests at Din Daeng intersection during the past few months. Do children have the right to participate, especially from the angle of freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly, and what are the parameters?

• OPINION

  Grappling with human trafficking, forced labour

  Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 16/09/2021

  » Thailand's apparent failure to deal with the issue of human trafficking over recent months has resulted in a downgrade of its performance in the 2021 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) annual report, issued by the US in July.

• OPINION

  Thailand's emergency decree needs an overhaul

  Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 21/07/2021

  » The country's State of Emergency Decree became law in 2005 and since then, it has been one of the most contested laws. Yet, it has been one of the instruments most frequently used by the executive branch of government and is currently the main law for tackling Covid-19. Does the decree comply with international standards?

• OPINION

  SDGs require balanced power ties

  News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 19/03/2018

  » One of the heartening aspects of international relations in recent years was the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a global framework for action in 2015. The aim is to attain 17 goals in the fifteen year period by 2030. There has been a great "buy-in" in that states have committed to these goals without exception.

• OPINION

  UN group highlights nexus of duties

  News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 10/04/2018

  » At the end of their well-received visit to Thailand, the UN Working Group (WG) on Business and Human Rights issued a useful and constructive statement. As with any visit by a human rights body, the WG's findings indicate both a positive side and another side that needs improvement.

• OPINION

  High stakes as regime considers rights

  News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 19/02/2018

  » A pre-Chinese New Year present from the government was Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's proclamation of the government's human rights agenda to complement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Thailand's "4.0" target to become a more developed society. Beyond the formalities, what are some of the stakes?

• OPINION

  Challenges to gender equality in Thailand

  News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 08/03/2018

  » Thailand's formal commitment to women's rights began in 1985 when it became a party to the key UN treaty on the subject: the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

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