Showing 1 - 10 of 13
Refugees flee to find further repression
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 17/06/2024
» Transnational repression is emerging as a critical concern for the world community, including the Asean region. Basically, it encompasses actions by state authorities and their agents to intimidate, harass and or harm those deemed to be dissidents -- usually their nationals -- who have sought shelter or are present in other countries.
Gender gaps in politics and business
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 30/03/2024
» Thailand's most recent report on women's rights -- available on the United Nations' website -- is part of the eighth cycle of reporting under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to which the country became a party in 1985.
Humanising policy towards refugees
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 02/03/2023
» The recent death of a Uighur man -- who had sought refuge in Thailand and was subsequently detained for nearly a decade, was a sad reflection of the unbalanced response towards persons who seek refuge, or "refugees", in this country. Various groups currently seek protection from persecution, armed conflicts and key human rights violations in their country of origin, and they deserve to be treated decently and humanely.
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?
On torture and enforced disappearances
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 23/09/2021
» The House's approval of bills on the prevention and suppression of torture and enforced disappearances last week is a welcome development to the human rights issue in Thailand.
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?
Slowly moving away from the death penalty
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 22/04/2021
» One of the interesting developments in Thailand is that official circles are gradually moving away from the death penalty as a sanction against crimes. This is witnessed by the Ministry of Justice's campaign to invite the public to look at options beyond the death penalty. What if there is a large proportion of the population in the country which still favours its retention rather than abolition? There is a need to balance with the international trend and the country's obligations.
Challenges to human rights in Asia
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 12/12/2019
» Cooperation between Europe and Asia offers much-needed opportunities to strengthen human rights education. The opportunities complement the global impetus to propel human rights education exemplified by various commitments in the recent past, ranging from the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education to the World Programme for Human Rights Education and the UN Resolution on Human Rights Education and Training.
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?
Child protection can unite Asean
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 09/10/2017
» Is the 50-year-old Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) still young at heart? Much of the Asean region in fact will be faced with an ageing population in the coming decades. Meanwhile, the interface between children and the protection of their rights will still be a pervasive challenge.