Showing 1 - 7 of 7
One year of marriage equality
Oped, Niamh Collier-Smith, Published on 13/02/2026
» Every year on Feb 14, the world pauses to celebrate love -- traditionally through flowers, romance and promises. But this Valentine's Day in Thailand goes beyond sentiment, marking over one full year of legal marriage equality.
Is being born as an LGBTI person a medical issue?
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 30/06/2025
» June is a propitious time to remember the history of lesbian, gay, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people and their struggles to overcome discrimination and violence. One of the difficulties confronting them throughout the ages has been how the medical sector and related science view them, and how they should be treated by medical classifications. What is the situation today both locally and globally?
Shifting from tolerance to real inclusion
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 23/05/2025
» On the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia on May 17, UN human rights experts recently called for countries to work with LGBTI communities and not to police them. This was an apt message that has to resonate at the national and local levels, especially when the world is witnessing regression in regard to policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Calling Thai domestic abuse to account
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 04/08/2022
» Developing societies (including Thailand) have enjoyed the presence of extended families, in contrast with the smaller unit of nuclear families. This broader coverage, encompassing not only the parents and children but also grandparents and other dependants, has offered a social safety net to support family members. Yet, that extended unit has now been disintegrating for some time, compounded by the stress due to Covid-19. What then are the areas needing more attention to tackle the changing scenario?
Trust 'key' to quest for better world
Oped, Achim Steiner, Published on 01/04/2022
» At this pivotal moment for people and planet, the world has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to advance an inclusive socio-economic recovery from Covid-19 that drives down poverty and inequalities; advances the protection of our natural world; and boosts decisive climate action. Yet the foundations that all these ambitions are built on -- trust between people and governments -- has been eroded by the Covid-19 pandemic. Through misinformation and division, it has been argued that the media and governments are feeding a vicious cycle of distrust and "exploiting it for commercial and political gain". The key to reversing this worrying trend is strengthening civic space, so that everyone can speak out about the future they want.
Cambodia's progress has been stalled
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 31/03/2022
» The situation in Cambodia can perhaps be described as straddling a testament and a predicament. The testament is the 30th anniversary of the Paris Peace Agreements (October 1991) which brought peace to the country after a long period of warfare and the "recent tragic past". It established a pivotal framework for human rights, democracy and sustainable development in the country.
New hate speech rules threaten Asian democracy
Oped, James Gomez & Robin Ramcharan, Published on 18/07/2020
» Southeast Asia is experiencing new forms of hate speech that are increasingly played out over social media and a wide range of increasingly accessible digital platforms. Updated measures to tackle new forms of hate must move away from outdated policies focused on narrow definitions of hate speech.