Showing 1 - 10 of 117
Toward global compacts on refugees and migrants
Asia focus, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 29/01/2018
» 2018 is a significant year for the global community to converge on two commitments: the Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. The seeds for these agreements were sown in 2016 when leaders adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants which called for an international framework for cooperation by 2018. The current momentum is to adopt such compacts in the latter half of 2018, and Thailand has been completing a round of discussions as potential inputs.
The new face of gender equality
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 09/02/2018
» Welcome to some innovative and refreshing action in favour of gender equality recently! A few days ago, Malaysia’s highest court, the Federal Court, passed a judgement in favour of a Hindu woman whose husband had changed his religion to Islam, without her knowledge, and whose husband then changed the religion of the children to Islam, without the mother’s consent. The court underlined that consent on the part of both parents was needed to change the religion of the children.
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?
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).
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.
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.
Same sex civil unions: off to a good start
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 12/07/2018
» The momentum towards the passage of a law in Thailand to register same sex civil unions is most heartening and needs our fullest support. This is especially because it will legitimise mutual love and friendship without discrimination and without distinction.
Charter intricacies and electoral delicacies
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 28/07/2018
» Thailand has witnessed 20 constitutions since 1932. The most recent, the 20th, came into effect last year, after an interim constitution, the 19th, which emerged as a result of a coup d'etat in 2014.
Thai human rights body in state of flux
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 13/08/2018
» It was the country's people-based 16th constitution (1997) which established Thailand's National Human Rights Commission. The expectation was that the commission would act as a promoter and protector of human rights, with due regard for universal standards, complementing the constitution and national laws. It would also be a check and balance mechanism, especially where the traditional pillars of the state might not be fulfilling their tasks or impinge on human rights.
Universal child rights an absolute must
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 25/08/2018
» One of the most distressing issues today is the predicament of children who end up detained in immigration centres, which often leads to psychological harm. Regrettably, immigration laws in many countries are interpreted as criminal law which gives rise to the detention of those who fail to abide by them, whereas preferably, such laws should be an administrative framework for border management without criminal sanctions.