14 2 Human Rights Situation Relating to Civil and Political Rights Rights relating to the administration of justice The government provided more financial assistance to promote people’s access to justice compared to the previous year, especially in cases of offenders’ or defendants’ requesting a temporary release during trial. Continuous efforts were also made to address the prison’s overcrowding. However, public knowledge about the right to receive financial assistance remained limited, and prison conditions needed to be further improved. The NHRCT, therefore, stresses that the government to protect the rights relating to the administration of justice more efficiently. Torture and enforced disappearance Thailand has made remarkable progress in enacting the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act B.E. 2565, delivering many significant justice cases and providing redress for victims of torture. Nevertheless, in 2022, the NHRCT continued to receive complaints about torture, although the number was slightly lower than the previous year. The NHRCT remains concerned about the conduct of officials in some reported cases relating to acts of intimidation, physical assault and torture against people to obtain confessions and negotiate for benefits which were not in accordance with the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). Meanwhile, there was no significant progress in the investigation of missing person cases. 001-234 V9 CS6.indd 14 Human rights defenders Witness Protection Act (No. 2) B.E. 2565 was enacted in 2022 and efforts were made to push forward the legislative process of the bill on Preventive Measures for the Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation in the Offences of Corruption and Misconduct B.E. …., which could be beneficial for human rights defenders requesting protection. However, there were still situations that affected human rights defenders and the NHRCT continued to receive their complaints occasionally, including prosecutions that were considered harassment. Meanwhile, there was no concrete cases where the Criminal Procedure Code Section 161/1 and Section 165/2 had been enforced to protect human rights defenders. Situation in the southern border provinces The government has taken actions in accordance with the recommendations provided by the NHRCT, such as reducing the designated areas for enforcing the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation B.E. 2548. Nevertheless, statistics on unrest, casualties and injured people in 2022 slightly increased compared to the previous year. The NHRCT is concerned about violent incidents and acts of the government officials such as tracking, searching and detaining alleged offenders and suspects in security cases. Other causes of concern include detention of students/activists exercising freedom of expression, extrajudicial killing of suspects in security cases, and the recurrence of DNA testing on people in some areas. Such actions might become factors and conditions that contribute to conflicts in the southern border provinces. The NHRCT also advises 3/14/23 8:40 PM