areas. Certain ethnic groups, i.e. the Karen and Chao Ley (sea gypsies), still face problems relating to land for habitation and cultivation, while some of them are being prosecuted by state agencies. Furthermore, there is insufficient public participation in the implementation of several state-owned or state-endorsed projects, such as mining operation and seawall construction, which may impact local communities. Towards solving these problems, the NHRCT recommends that the government improve or amend existing laws to facilitate effective exercise of community rights, including by ethnic groups, to participate in the management of natural resources. Local people should be allowed to voice their opinions on any project which may impact their health and quality of life and appropriate remedial measures should be provided to persons affected by such project. On the right to health, in 2020 the government has made continuous efforts in ensuring people’s better access to health care services through the development of primary health care system, the reduction of congestion in public hospitals with the use of technology, procurement of vaccines for disease prevention, etc. One health situation of concern that should be monitored closely is the mental health problem, especially live broadcast of suicide attempt online via social media, which might reflect insufficient counseling services. Pollution from atmospheric particulate matter having a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5) remains another health problem of serious concern. It is found that some people are not well informed on how to protect themselves from this health hazard or lack proper equipment to do so. Another important health issue is the continued use of pesticide in farming which are harmful to health. There are still calls for the continued use of paraquat and chlorpyrifos because there have not yet been alternative substances which are equally effective and affordable for farmers to use. Recommendations that the NHRCT puts forward to the government and concerned agencies include: intensifying and expediting the survey and plan to prevent suicide through detection of a signal shown up via online platform; enhancing knowledge and understanding about the danger of PM 2.5 and ways to protect oneself against such danger among the general public, ensuring equal access to sufficient supply of protection equipment at affordable price for all; and finding appropriate measures to alleviate the impact of the pesticide ban on affected farmers. As for the right to education, statistics on access to education of Thailand’s school-age population in 2020 are still of major concern. There are about two million school-age population who cannot access education or school system, even though statistics on school drop-out rates are at a relatively low level and show a tendency of decline. This is despite the government’s concerted efforts to promote access to education through the Student Loan Fund (SLF) and the Equitable Education Fund (EEF). On the quality of education, the average scores by subject of the Ordinary National Educational Test (O-NET) from 2019-2020 are fairly low, most of them being lower than 50%. The test results also show discrepancy between schools in urban and rural areas. The NHRCT therefore recommends that the government consider drawing a plan or adopt appropriate measures to ensure that 26 คณะกรรมการสิทธิมนุษยชนแห่งชาติ National Human Rights Commission of Thailand