“On 4 September 2024, the NIHR Complaints and Call Center received an email from a
Bahraini citizen residing in a Gulf country whose passport had expired. He had applied to
renew it at the Kingdom’s embassy in that country and had taken all necessary measures,
including paying the renewal fees, but had not received any results. Accordingly, and in light
of the role played by the institution in the field of protecting human rights, it immediately
followed up with the competent authorities to consider the matter. The complaint is still
being processed by the competent authorities.” 13
National Human Rights Commission of Thailand
In cases involving allegations of human rights violations by Thai diplomatic missions
abroad, the NHRCT may engage in initial fact-finding, coordination for protection, and
providing recommendations. Under its regulatory framework, particularly the Regulation of
the NHRCT on Principles and Procedures for Investigating Human Rights Violations, B.E.
2561 (2018), actions the NHRCT may undertake include domestic fact-finding, coordination
with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and providing pertinent recommendations to
ensure Thailand’s compliance with international human rights obligations.
The NHRCT may address cases where allegations are linked to the Thai government,
officials or entities abroad, particularly in the context of international human rights
obligations. Actions in such cases may include investigating the matter within its mandate,
providing policy recommendations and engaging in international cooperation to address the
issue effectively.14
Violations against citizens of the NHRI’s home State
Some NHRIs have jurisdiction to promote and protect the human rights of their country’s citizens, or
some categories of citizens, wherever the citizens might be. The citizens most commonly protected in
this way are international migrant workers, that is, those who have travelled from their country of origin
to a country of employment. The home country’s NHRI monitors the situation of migrant workers and
accepts complaints from them.
In some cases, a complaint is not handled directly by the NHRI. Rather the NHRI refers the complaint to
its country’s foreign ministry or other ministry with responsibility for migrant workers. It might also refer
the complaint to the NHRI in the country of employment, if there is an NHRI there, with the request that
the local NHRI investigate and seek to resolve the complaint. In other instances, the NHRI in the home
country will conduct its own investigation of the complaint and seek to resolve it.
Examples provided by NHRIs acting on extra-territorial human
rights cases involving citizens of the NHRI’s home State
Bahrain National Institution for Human Rights
Whenever a human right of any person holding Bahraini nationality is violated in another
country, the Institution’s jurisdiction does not extend to that country; however, the institution
13. From information provided for this paper by the Bahrain National Institution for Human Rights.
14. From information provided for this paper by the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand.
National action on international issues
15