รายงานผลการประเมินสถานการณ์ ด้านสิทธิมนุษยชนของประเทศไทย ปี 2565 13 Executive Summary The assessment report on Thailand’s human rights situation in 2022 is prepared in accordance with the duties and powers of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT). Information on developments of a wide-range of human rights issues has been gathered and analyzed to identify problems and obstacles. The assessment is then made against the rights guaranteed in the Constitution, national laws and treaties to which Thailand is party and obligated to comply with. The report also makes recommendations to the government and concerned agencies on ways to promote and protect human rights on specific issues. The content of the report is divided into four parts as follows: 1 Human Rights Situation in Specific Circumstances Human rights situation under the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic The government has made efforts to provide for and ensure better access to medical treatment and COVID-19 vaccines compared to 2021, resulting in the lower number of deaths from the disease. The government continued to protect people’s right to an adequate standard of living through assistance and remedial measures for different groups while the economy had not yet fully recovered from the pandemic. However, only a small number of young children and older persons received booster doses of the vaccines, and some groups had difficulties accessing the government’s remedial measures. In addition, follow–up effort is required to bring children who had dropped out of school back into the education system. The government should draw lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to prepare for possible future crises. 001-234 V9 CS6.indd 13 Exercise of the freedom of assembly in 2022 There were fewer political demonstrations than in the previous year, and most of them were peaceful. The nationwide state of emergency was lifted on 1 October 2022, allowing people to exercise their freedom of assembly under normal laws while political demonstrations in designated areas were permitted according to the announcements of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Moreover, the verdicts by the First Instance Courts in some cases affirmed the exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly. Nevertheless, there was still prosecution related to public assembly for offences under the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation B.E. 2548 and the crackdown against a group called Ratsadon Yoot APEC 2022 (Civilians stop APEC 2022). The NHRCT, therefore, emphasizes that the government respects the freedom of peaceful assembly and instructs officials to perform their duties during public assembly in accordance with international standards, to be cautious in prosecuting those who exercise their rights and freedom, and to take into account the safety of children as a priority. 3/14/23 8:40 PM