Govt paying lip service to human rights

A lone demonstrator protests against enforced disappearances such as that of civil rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit. (Photo courtesy UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights)

At a glance, the drafting of the National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights appears to be good news for many.

The draft is a result of Thailand's commitment to the international community, that it would abide by human rights protection principles. The commitment was made during the second Universal Periodic Review, a UN examination of human rights situation, in Geneva, 2016. Leading the drafting process is the Rights and Liberties Protection Department of the Ministry of Justice which in 2017 signed a memorandum of cooperation with the National Human Rights Commission, the Foreign Affairs and Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Bankers Association, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Global Computing Network of Thailand.

Paritta Wangkiat is a columnist, Bangkok Post.

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