With its gossamer chambers and gleaming blue veins, the model heart that biology teacher Pimdao Nudklanarongrit placed on a metal tray did not look plastic as it filled the smart screen behind her. And despite the suits worn by the teachers and officials gathered in the smart classroom at Buriram Pittayakom School for a professional training session, they momentarily resembled students as they inclined toward the board and watched her demonstration. For Anasaya Boorapa, an English instructor at Siriket Nomklao School in Si Sa Ket province, the captivating display confirmed something she has witnessed in her own classroom in recent months. Before new digital tools were introduced late last year, 'learning was more passive, and students didn’t often volunteer answers to questions,' she said. Now, 'lessons are more interactive and students are more confident about sharing their ideas.’Boorapa's school is one of ten pilot institutions across northeast Thailand taking part in the Technology-enabled Open Schools for All (TEOSA) initiative, led by UNESCO's Regional Office in Bangkok and Office for UN Coordination for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCO Bangkok) in partnership with Huawei Technologies and Thailand's Ministry of Education. In December 2025, the initiative equipped one 'mother' school each in Buriram and Si Sa Ket provinces with Smart Classroom infrastructure — interactive displays, document cameras, table-level computers and high-speed internet — each linked to four surrounding 'child schools' able to receive and participate in lessons in real time.The need it addresses is acute. According to a 2022 national assessment by the World Bank and Thailand's Equitable Education Fund, 74.1% of Thai youth and working-age adults lack essential digital skills.TEOSA, also active in Brazil and Egypt, is part of UNESCO's broader effort to narrow digital divides and promote equitable access to quality education, a cornerstone of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4. On 19 March 2026, the International Day for Digital Learning will see UNESCO and UNICEF co-launch the Charter for Public Digital Learning Platforms, a framework to extend public education into digital environments equitably and sustainably.'The International Day for Digital Learning is a reminder that access to technology in schools is increasingly a key element for equal opportunities,' says Marina Patrier, UNESCO Bangkok's Deputy Director and Chief of Education.  'But technology alone has never been enough. What we are trying to support in Thailand is a model where teachers’ and learners’ capacity to use digital tools to enhance learning outcomes and inclusivity grows together.' That pairing was visible in Buriram on March 4 and 5, 2026, when 45 teachers from the pilot schools gathered for professional development and training on Smart Classroom tools, informed by the UNESCO's AI Competency Framework for Teachers. UNESCO's AI Competency Framework for Students was also presented, as teachers discussed their practical experience of using AI in class. Currently, only half of the countries around the world have standards for developing teacher ICT skills, according to UNESCO's 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report, a gap the TEOSA Initiative was designed to address.The day before the biology demonstration, a mathematics class offered a preview of what that looks like in practice. Around 20 students competed to raise their hands to demonstrate the solution to a math challenge. When one was chosen, the document camera captured his worksheet and projected it onto the screen behind him. 'When I invite them to come to the front and write or solve problems on the board, they enjoy it even more,' says Woranitipat Worakaensai, a mathematics teacher at Khuean Chang Phittayakharn School. 'They are eager to come up and participate.'For Siravit Koram, a Grade 11 student at Buriram Pittayakom School, the effect extends beyond enthusiasm. 'The large screen helps us understand the laws of physics much better,' he says. 'It makes me want to explore and learn along with the technology.' The classroom-level change reflects broader policy developments. The UNESCO AI Competency Framework for Teachers, translated into Thai through the TESOA initiative, has informed the development of Thailand's Digital Safety and Literacy Curriculum, a Ministry of Education programme to strengthen digital skills across all age groups. A training programme targeting an estimated 200 master teachers is planned for later in 2026, to be cascaded nationwide. In neighbouring Lao PDR, UNESCO has supported all 16 of the country’s Education Training Institutions to adopt a reformed digital curriculum to enhance teacher ICT and AI competencies at scale.Because Pimdao Nudklanarongrit’s biology session at the mother school was broadcast live and recorded, teachers at surrounding child schools had access to the same demonstration. In previous years, she says, the same lesson would have required a pig's heart and a room small enough for every student to see.‘The role of teachers is changing,’ says Anasaya Boorapa, ‘we can’t just be instructors, we have to use technology to facilitate learning.’ Originally published by UNESCO Bangkok

Chiang Rai, Thailand – At dawn on the Thai–Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Mae Sai, the first crossings of the day are already underway. Men and women from Myanmar move steadily into northern Thailand, some carrying small bags, others holding documents in plastic folders. On the Thai side, vans and labour brokers wait to take them to construction sites, farms and factories across the province.  Lin wonders what fate awaits these migrants. The 49-year-old has observed this routine for years. Each morning, she studies the crowd and wonders what will happen once they leave the bridge – who will find stable work, and who may need someone to stand beside them.A lifelong resident of Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai province, one of the busiest crossing points between Thailand and Myanmar, Lin has spent the past 15 years volunteering to support newly arrived migrants. By day, she runs a small jewelry stall to support herself. In the evenings and on weekends, she leads a grassroots self-help group that assists vulnerable migrants, many of whom are fleeing conflict, economic instability, or insecurity back home.“My purpose is to serve people,” Lin says. “Everyone deserves safety and a fair chance. When migrants arrive here, they come with hope. No one should take advantage of that.”    IOM and volunteers deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities in northern Thailand, supporting both migrants and host families. Photos: IOM 2024/Piraporn Tongjad, IOM 2026/Ratchanon KruenchitWhat began as a small circle of 10 volunteers – Thai host community members and migrants from Myanmar united by a shared sense of responsibility – has grown into a network of 60 members. The group sustains its work by pooling modest contributions from members.Their mission is simple but vital: to bridge communication gaps between migrants and local authorities. Language barriers often lead to misunderstandings, disputes, or even exploitation. Volunteers accompany migrants to government offices and service providers, acting as interpreters and helping ensure that concerns are clearly understood.In the early days, much of their work involved assisting bereaved families with funeral arrangements and navigating death registration procedures. Lin recalls one case involving a construction worker who died on the job.The employer initially refused to report the death, fearing legal consequences, and declined to compensate the family. The group stepped in. They raised funds for the funeral and worked closely with local officials, the employer and Thailand’s Social Security Office. After persistent advocacy, the worker’s family received 200,000 Thai baht – about USD 6,000 – in compensation.    Such cases reflect the broader challenges facing migrants in Chiang Rai, where an estimated 45 per cent of migrants from Myanmar are in an irregular situation. The local economy depends heavily on migrant labour, particularly in sectors such as construction and agriculture that involve physically demanding and sometimes hazardous work.Ongoing conflict and economic instability in Myanmar continue to push people to look for work across the border, even when the journey is uncertain.“Most people will take any job they can get,” Lin explains. “For them, it’s all about survival and supporting their families back home.”  Despite filling essential roles in the local economy, many migrant workers remain socially isolated, separated by language differences and uncertain legal status. This isolation can increase their exposure to unfair treatment and labour rights violations.By strengthening communication between migrants and authorities, Lin’s group aims to prevent disputes before they escalate and reduce the risk of abuse.    Cherry, a migrant from Myanmar and community volunteer, supports outreach and humanitarian activities for vulnerable migrants in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Photos: IOM 2026/Ratchanon KruenchitAmong the younger volunteers helping to build these bridges is Cherry, who understands these struggles firsthand. A migrant from Myanmar, Cherry first met Lin during a community health workshop early in the COVID-19 pandemic.Now 30, Cherry moved to Thailand at the age of 13 to reunite with her father, who worked in construction in Mae Sai. At first, she spoke little Thai. Each day, she crossed back into Myanmar to attend school. Despite the logistical challenges, she completed high school and later earned a university degree through a distance-learning programme in Myanmar.“I know what it feels like to arrive and not understand anything,” Cherry says. “You feel invisible. If someone helps you even once, you never forget it.”She began volunteering by translating COVID-19 public health guidance for migrant communities. Over time, her role expanded. She began assisting with small relief efforts, supporting outreach activities and helping new arrivals navigate basic services.When devastating floods struck Chiang Rai in late 2024, Cherry played a critical liaison role as Lin’s self-help group partnered with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to deliver humanitarian assistance.The volunteers supported rapid assessments in affected villages and helped identify the most vulnerable households. They assisted in distributing emergency kits containing food, water, blankets, and hygiene supplies to families who had lost homes or livelihoods. In total, close to 1,800 vulnerable people were reached, including host community members.For Lin, leadership does not require a title. It begins with noticing who needs support.“When women lead in their communities, they connect people,” she says. “They help others feel seen and heard.”As migrants continue to cross the bridge each morning, Lin remains there, watching, ready. For many, the journey into Thailand marks the beginning of uncertainty. For a growing number, it also marks the beginning of community support. IOM’s humanitarian assistance in Thailand supporting vulnerable migrants from Myanmar is funded by the Government of Japan. Originally Published by IOM

Globally, women today hold only 64% of the legal rights that men enjoy. Justice systems must ensure that rights can be exercised safely, equally and effectively. This is the call of International Women's Day 2026: Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls, in all their diversity.Thailand has shown a sustained commitment to equality before the law. Constitutional guarantees of non-discrimination, the Gender Equality Act, national human rights plans and gender-responsive budgeting provide strong foundations. Progress on marriage equality and expanded legal identity for stateless persons reflects continued reform.But justice is not measured by laws alone.It is measured by whether a woman facing violence feels safe enough to speak, and whether institutions respond with fairness and dignity when she does. It is reflected in women's participation in political and economic life, and in access to education, healthcare and essential services.Ultimately, it is measured by whether society stands not as a bystander, but as an active partner in advancing gender equality.Thailand has made meaningful progress. Survivors of violence have increasing access to support services, and national strategies recognise gender equality as central to sustainable development. Yet gaps remain. Migrant women workers, women human rights defenders, and those living at the margins of formal systems face higher risks of exclusion and abuse.Thailand's nationwide network of one-stop crisis centres (OSCC) for domestic violence offers a concrete example of support in practice. Each year, over 30,000 cases of violence against women are reported to the OSCC, yet only about 5,000 cases are recorded by the police, and 1,500 cases result in an arrest.This reflects a global reality: fewer than 40% of women who experience violence seek help, and fewer than 10% report to the authorities. The challenge is not only legal. It is about trust:trust that when a woman speaks, she will be believed and protected.Justice must therefore be accessible, trusted, and responsive if women and girls are to exercise their rights with confidence.Thailand's rapid digital development presents both opportunity and risk. Digital tools can expand access to legal information, but the digital divide, particularly affecting poorer women in rural areas, deepens inequality. Online abuse, scams and harassment disproportionately target women and girls. Ensuring safety in digital spaces is essential so that technology empowers rather than exposes.Access to justice also requires cooperation. Government, civil society and communities all play vital roles in ensuring that justice institutions are inclusive, transparent and effective. Thailand's engagement at regional and international levels reflects its ongoing commitment to fairness and the rule of law.That commitment is reflected this year in a partnership in Bangkok. The Embassy of Sweden is co-hosting the 2026 Ambassador for a Day initiative with the United Nations, bringing more than 40 Youth Shadows into dialogue with women leaders from diplomatic missions, Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN. The theme, "Ensuring Access to Justice for Women and Girls", is not symbolic. The young leaders remind us that justice must evolve with society, and that access must be real for everyone, not only guaranteed in principle.Sweden's long-standing commitment to gender equality and accountability aligns closely with Thailand's efforts. Sweden is recognised for its policies on gender equality and a legal framework that promotes equal access to justice, including anti-discrimination laws.However, Sweden is not perfect when it comes to gender equality and access to justice. There are still cases when, for example, immigrants and marginalised women face barriers that limit their ability to seek protection and fair treatment.Experiences across countries show that justice is never complete. Laws must adapt. Systems must be reformed.Values need to evolve. A police officer must believe victims of violence. A public official has to treat a complaint seriously. And institutions need to respond with fairness.The UN works alongside Thailand and other member states to strengthen these systems, supporting survivor-centred services, building institutional capacity and helping ensure that when a woman seeks justice, she finds protection, fairness and trust.Because justice is a cornerstone of the human rights system. It underpins dignity and sustains inclusive, prosperous societies.Closing power gaps, ending legal discrimination, eliminating violence, building trust in institutions, removing digital bias, investing in women and girls, and ensuring women's full participation in decision-making are not separate goals. Together, as the UN Secretary-General emphasises, they form a blueprint for equality.This International Women's Day, we recognise Thailand's progress and reaffirm our shared commitment to ensuring that rights are not only guaranteed but realised.Rights. Justice. Action. For all women and girls.Anna Hammargren is the Ambassador of Sweden to Thailand. Michaela Friberg-Storey is the designated representative of the UN Secretary-General and UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand.

Written by Anna Hammargren and Michaela Friberg-Storey

Originally published by the Bangkok Post

Thailand criminalizes sexual harassment, including onlineInternational Women’s Day 2026 arrives as Thailand updates its legal tools to address a form of violence that increasingly plays out on screens. On 30 December 2025, Thailand’s Act Amending the Penal Code (No. 30) B.E. 2568 (2025) took effect, formally criminalizing “sexual harassment” as a distinct offence, including conduct through electronic communications.“This amendment is significant because it broadens how sexual harassment is understood in law, recognizing that harm can be inflicted not only through physical acts, but also through words, gestures, stalking and communications,” says Santanee Ditsayabut, Public Prosecutor and Director of Justice Strategies at the Nitivajra Institute, Office of the Attorney-General of Thailand.She adds that the law is intended to protect people of all genders, reflecting the reality that sexual harassment affects women and girls disproportionately, but can also target men and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and others (LGBTQI+). Santanee notes that the amended provisions modernize Thailand’s law by recognizing patterns of behaviour, including continuous or repeated conduct that can amount to “chronic sexual harassment”. “The law also acknowledges how harassment has shifted into digital spaces, where abuse can be delivered through messages, comments and other online communications, and can be repeated and amplified quickly.” In that sense, she says, the amendment seeks to make accountability clearer and enable earlier intervention, including when offenses occur online.Prosecutor Santanee will attend the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women and present at the Side Event, Justice for Her: Overcoming Challenges and Transforming the Justice System into a Safe Space for Victims in Gender-Based Violence Cases organized by the Government of Thailand.The change comes amid growing regional concern about technology-facilitated gender-based violence, from unsolicited sexual messages and intimidation to the spread of humiliating or violating content. Advocates have long argued that weak legal coverage and slow remedies can allow online harm to multiply, with consequences for women’s safety, work, education and public participation.“This is an important step because, in the past, Thailand did not have a specific legal provision defining what sexual harassment is. This law matters because it defines sexual harassment and explicitly covers online sexual harassment,” says Thararat Panya, Attorney-at-law at Feminist Legal Support.UN Women’s Asia-Pacific policy brief on technology-facilitated violence warns that digital harm is evolving rapidly – including through new tools such as artificial intelligence – and that responses must combine laws, survivor-centred services and platform accountability.Public debate on the issue sharpened in late December 2025 after a high-profile case involving Yossuda “Jinny” Leelapanyalert, the daughter of Thai politician Sudarat Keyuraphan. A public figure posted a sexually explicit comment under an online photo connected to her political activities. Jinny said the remark was “degrading and should not be normalized”, particularly when it comes from someone with public influence. Her mother condemned it as online sexual harassment and said the family would pursue legal action.Legal change matters because when laws change, lives change. Closing legal gaps can create clearer pathways to accountability, stronger prevention and better survivor support. But legal protections are only as strong as the ability to use them.From laws to remedies: A new fast-track “take it down” mechanismOn 26 January 2026, Thailand further introduced a new pathway to help address the ongoing harm caused by the circulation of violating or obscene content. The Office of the Judiciary introduced a “take it down” procedure through the Court Integral Online Service platform, allowing victims to seek court orders to suspend dissemination and remove content linked to online sexual harassment, thanks to the recently amended section 284/4 of the Penal Code.“This is a good start towards stronger legal protection for survivors,” says Saijai Liangpunsakul, Founder of Stop Online Harm, a survivor-centred initiative that documents online harm, supports survivors and engages governments and tech platforms on accountability. “Survivors now have a clearer legal process to request the removal of harmful online content, and the courts have made the process more accessible by allowing requests to be submitted online.”The Penal Code amendments allow complainants to submit petitions online, through an end-to-end electronic system, and courts to conduct inquiries online, with in-person attendance required only when necessary.“This kind of remedy matters because digital harms can persist long after a single incident,” says Thararat. “Content can be copied, reposted and weaponized for blackmail, intimidation and reputational harm. Where there is no law, no remedy and no accountability, impunity persists. That is why the judiciary’s takedown order mechanism is important. It does not require an investigation file from police. If an incident happens and data in a computer system could lead to further harm, the court can hold an inquiry, order dissemination to be suspended, and have the content taken down immediately.”Human rights advocates have welcomed the criminalization of sexual harassment while also raising concerns about its implementation and the need to ensure that remedies are effective in practice. “[…] However, is still too early to assess the full impact. We still need to build awareness of this law among survivors and support law enforcement and authorities to implement it in a truly survivor-centred way,” says Saijai.Justice systems decide whose rights are protected and whose are ignored. If laws and justice pathways do not address online abuse and abuse offline, they leave a protection gap that women and girls pay for every day – in fear, silence and lost opportunities. Originally published by UN Women