Showing 1 - 10 of 378
Thai Human Rights Council aspirations
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 17/05/2024
» Thailand's quest for membership of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), Geneva, for the period 2025-2027, is rightly gaining interest among the general public. With a new foreign minister today, it is intriguing to prospect whether there will be more (or less) momentum in the competition towards the winning post -- with elections for the HRC due in New York in October.
Marriage equality is good business
Oped, Published on 09/04/2024
» Thailand has an incredible reputation for being LGBTQ-friendly, but its national laws and policies don't quite match the open-minded brand that its government projects. This dissonance -- what the UN called "tolerance but not inclusion" in a 2019 report -- is what the Thai parliament is on the brink of changing in a seismic decision to legalise same-sex marriage that will have a positive far-reaching impact on Thailand's economy for years to come (and hint: it's much more than the millions of dollars to be generated by the weddings themselves).
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.
Gender diversity is good for business
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 11/03/2024
» A timely issue raised by a recent forum of key businesses, political leaders and civil society was the potential for more inclusion of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people in the workplace. This is complementary to the other critically important issue of the day: the role of women in business and employment.
Trans brawl reveals 'a lot'
Oped, Editorial, Published on 09/03/2024
» Despite police denials, the recent street brawls between Thai and Filipina transsexuals on Sukhumvit exposed the existence of an underground sex business in this bustling nightlife spot of Bangkok.
Gender equality still falls short
Editorial, Published on 03/03/2024
» As the world prepares to commemorate International Women's Day on Friday, the recent tragedy involving the disappearance and murder of 27-year-old Chonlada "Noon" Muthuwong has cast a stark light on the persistent violence against women in Thailand.
Govt kindles same-sex marriage hopes
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 23/11/2023
» The top of the executive branch has given a welcome signal that it will fast-track in parliament a law to recognise same-sex marriage in Thailand.
Modern parents need full support
Editorial, Published on 24/09/2023
» When it comes to demographics, Thailand is unique compared to its neighbours in Southeast Asia, in more ways than one.
Breaking gender barriers in the clergy
Oped, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 22/07/2023
» Can queers be ordained as Buddhist monks? The question sparked intense debates on social media when Pataradanai Setsuwan, a well-known openly gay celebrity, entered the monkhood late last month.
Conditional inclusivity just the first step
Oped, Published on 14/06/2023
» Earlier this month, the Bangkok Pride parade drew a slew of rights defenders and supporters -- LGBTQ activists, politicians, ambassadors, international organisations, and businessmen. It took place under a fresh political atmosphere given the recent victory of the pro-democracy parties in the May 14 election. If these parties are allowed to govern, the future for the LGBTQ community is promising. However, before the marriage equality bill passed the first reading, it was strongly criticised, especially for supporting "unnatural behaviour".