Executive Summary
The assessment report on Thailand’s human rights situation in 2021 is prepared according to
the duties and powers of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT). The presentation
of human rights situation in the report is divided into four parts.
1
Assessment of Human Rights
Situation in Specific
Circumstances
คณะกรรมการสิิทธิิมนุุษยชนแห่่งชาติิ
National Human Rights Commission of Thailand
Human rights situation under the
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic:
Following the severe spread of the COVID-19
pandemic in April 2021, the government has
attempted to protect people’s right to health
through universal prevention and treatment
services. However, some groups of people were
missed out or faced obstacles in accessing the
vaccine. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
have led to unemployment and lack of income.
The remedies from the government might not
be adequate and some groups of people did not
have access to those measures. Furthermore,
the pandemic has affected the right to education
of children who are at risk of dropping out of
school, especially poor and migrant children.
16
Exercise of the liberty of assembly: In 2021,
peaceful means were generally used to present
political demands and calls for the government
to address and find solutions to economic, social,
and environmental problems. Under the measures
to control the spreading of COVID-19, the gatherings
were adjusted to comply with such measures
and took various forms, such as car mob and
standing-in-distance activities. Nevertheless,
there were some incidents where the assembly
was not peaceful and without arms. Besides,
some acts taken by the authorities in managing
the crowd were inconsistent with the object and
purpose of the Constitution and the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
2
Assessment of Human Rights
Situation Relating to Civil
and Political Rights
Right relating to the administration of
justice: Compared to 2020, relevant governmental
agencies provided an increased funding in 2021
to help ensure people’s access to justice and
facilitate temporary release through the Justice
Fund and the Office of Financial Assistance for
the Injured Person and the Accused in Criminal
Cases. In addition, an amendment was made to
the guideline of the Justice Fund to better assist
the victims of human rights violations. However,
there were several complaints made to the NHRCT
about delays in prosecution procedures by
the inquiry officers which affected prisoners’ rights.
Human rights defenders, torture and
enforced disappearance: The Prevention and
Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance
Bill has passed the first reading of the House
of Representatives. However, in 2021 there was
a torture case by an officer of the special unit
of Narcotics Suppression Police which had caused
the suspect’s death. Moreover, there has not been
progress on various cases of the missing political
activists. Although the Criminal Procedure Code
was amended in 2019 to protect human rights
defenders, it has not yet been effectively applied.
Situation in the southern border provinces:
The statistical data of insurgency and injured
people in the southern border provinces in 2021
have increased compared to the previous year.
However, the number of deaths has slightly
decreased. The government has made efforts