Resident Coordinator's Remarks at the National Human Rights Commission Assembly 2023

Chairperson Khun Pornprapai Ganjanarintr,

Distinguished Commissioners of the National Human Rights Commission,

Your Excellencies,

Government and civil society representatives, and UN colleagues.

It is my pleasure to join the second national human rights assembly. This year we also mark the 75th anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights.

I would like to commend the National Human Rights Commission in Thailand for your leadership on the protection and promotion of human rights.

It is your vision and ambition due to which the National Human Rights Commission secured “A” status last year under the Paris Principles.

This is a testament to the Commissioner’s critical advocacy, monitoring and protection mandates, as Thailand prepares for its candidacy on the Human Rights Council.

As we all know, independent institutions such as the National Human Rights Commission, offer invaluable checks and balances in the country, while engaging with existing human rights mechanisms.

On the global sphere, Thailand’s commitment is robust as it has ratified 7 out of the 9 core International Human Rights Treaties. These cover the protection against torture, women, and racial discrimination, in support of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as the rights of children and persons with disabilities.

Regionally, Thailand demonstrated leadership by being the first country in Asia with a stand-alone National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. This is a vital framework seeking fair working conditions, protection of land and community rights, natural resources, and environmental human rights defenders applicable in the country and across borders.  

Thailand has gone through three rounds of the Universal Periodic Review and to date, has adopted 78% of the recommendations. As we come up to the midterm reporting next year, it creates an additional opportunity to engage with the Universal Periodic Review mechanism while doubling up efforts to action the recommendations.

Today’s assembly provides an important platform for deep listening to civil society stakeholders in the pursuit of dignity, freedom, equity, and justice for all.

This is essential, as a whole of society approach will help foster these values and expand civic space.

Civil society plays an important and legitimate part in upholding, implementing, and advancing the universal human rights as they bring to bear multifaceted local and grassroots approaches to policies informed by a diversity of voices, especially those of the most vulnerable.

These voices include ethnic minorities, disadvantaged people, and marginalized populations including migrants and refugees.

Each of you here today brings a unique perspective based on your relationships of trust with communities nationwide.

Civil society is central to the UN’s work to deliver on the Cooperation Framework in Thailand.

To integrate civil society perspectives, the UN has institutionalized dialogues with civil society. Last year this dialogue focused on the draft non-profit organization bill which provided the UN with actionable insights.

This year, the engagement brought over 140 civil society organizations together prioritizing the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution and its disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups including women, girls, and indigenous people, amongst others. The dialogue also examined food systems to inform the food systems stock take in Rome.  

These dialogues inform UN’s response to challenges faced by environmental human rights defenders as we collectively work towards a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment for all.

As the custodian of global goods, universal treaties and conventions, the Secretary General is championing a UN 2.0 premised on the quintet of change.  

We are challenging ourselves to work differently and better while aligning with national priorities, based on values of human rights, gender equality, and justice.

‘Our Common Agenda’ sets out the Secretary General’s vision in this regard and institutionalizes the Call to Action. This requires the UN Country Team to analyze the opportunities for human rights and strengthen engagement with stakeholders like National Human Rights Commission to maximize impact.

This entails transformational change – moving beyond incrementalism - by addressing complex and interconnected challenges across social, economic, and environmental dimensions.

The foundation for this transformation is good governance and human rights.

As you know, we are at the midpoint to the 2030 Agenda, yet only 12% of SDGs are on track globally.

In Thailand, progress has been more robust with over 40% of the indicators set to be achieved by 2030. However, this means the other half needs acceleration, including SDG 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions.

Adding to the challenges are the multiple global crises from economic slowdown to rising geopolitical tensions.

Addressing these will require multilateral endeavors predicated on solidarity and a unity of purpose.

This will demand integrated, interrelated, and interdependent solutions through deepening partnerships between governments, the private sector and civil society, each complementing the other’s work.

It also requires front lining young people into decision-making to tap into their drive, innovative spirit, and creative energies, as custodians of the future. 

The 2030 Agenda is premised on human rights, and sustainable development is an effective instrument for ensuring that all human rights are realized.

The UN Country Team in Thailand consists of 21 agencies working in partnership with the government, civil society, and the private sector to accelerate the SDGs through the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, which prioritizes three outcomes.

First, supporting green, inclusive, and bio-circular transition.

Second, investing in digital transformation for human capital by empowering communities and institutions.

And third, addressing inequalities to make sure no one is left behind.

The Cooperation Framework is underpinned by the principles of human rights as without their fulfillment sustainable development and peace is not possible.

We are adopting a whole-of-UN approach and deploying a three-pronged strategy for our rights-based engagements.

First, the UN is partnering to promote freedom of expression and assembly. With shrinking civic space, creating entry points to institutionalize civic engagement with governments and private sector with a specific focus on young people, is becoming even more critical. In this regard the UN seeks to support a child friendly justice system through advocacy and training of the security apparatus.

Second, the UN is partnering with the Ministry of Justice and the private sector to mainstream business and human rights due diligence. This means that businesses commit themselves to the environment, social, and governance principles as well as protecting workers’ rights and addressing their grievances, including those of migrants.

Third, the UN is strengthening capacities of environmental and human rights defenders, to enable them to effectively advocate for ethnic minorities and marginalized population living on the fringes of protected forests, conservation areas and national parks.

As I conclude, comprehensively advancing human rights in the country will require us as stakeholders to adopt a whole of society approach for evidence-based advocacy, monitoring and protection.

It will also demand robust engagement with the human rights mechanisms, including treaty bodies and Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council.

As the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is recognized as a universal human right by the General Assembly, all of us here today will need to embed a people-centered approach to climate, biodiversity loss and pollution.

The National Human Rights Commission, along with other independent commissions, are key to making this happen, and we as the UN stand ready to support you in taking this agenda forward.

The discussions during today’s Assembly are vital, as you identify the steps for collective advocacy and action in support of this agenda.

I wish you all the best for today’s sessions.

Thank you.