Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya delivered a speech underlining Thailand’s role as a leading country in pushing forward human rights at the international level during the 16th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council held in Geneva, Switzerland on 28 February 2011.
On that occasion, Foreign Minister Kasit stressed Thailand’s pride in assuming the Council’s chairmanship amidst trust gained from the Council’s members at a crucial juncture when the Council is undergoing review, the world is witnessing the call for freedom, peoples’ right of ownership and participation. In this regard, Thailand have high hopes in the Council in promoting and protecting human rights, build a common ground among different member groups, regions, and levels of development, as well as address human rights challenges in an even-handed manner.
Foreign Minister Kasit further added that the importance of promoting democracy, tolerance, avoiding extremism and support for the cohabitation of multi-ethnic groups in society are all crucial factors in the development of human rights. While the events are currently unfolding in many countries around the world, it is the Council’s responsibility to be on high alert, end any form of autocratic personality cult, and take action in face of any escalating threat and grave violations of human rights.
In this regard, human rights promotion and protection continue to be one of the top priorities of the Thai Government. Various progress had been made so far over the past year, said Foreign Minister Kasit. Investigations into the violent incidents during the protests last April are still on-going with a view to bringing the perpetrators to account. Notwithstanding this, progress had also been made with regards to reducing the disparity within Thai society and pushing forward the implementation of the 5-point national reconciliation plan which aims at ensuring basic rights and needs for all persons on an equal footing.
In a similar manner, Thailand has also promoted and pushed forward numerous human rights issues based on the human rights pledges and commitments made earlier, as demonstrated by the withdrawal of Thailand’s reservation to Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), an act which guarantee basic human rights to all children in Thailand in terms of law, policy, and practice, translated the pledges into a plan of action, and published a booklet on the Council and distribute to the Thai general public and civil society so that they can better know and understand the role of the Council. Overall, Thailand is working to make our Council membership as meaningful as possible for the Thai people nationwide.
And to add impetus to the Council session’s emphasis on children and the vulnerable, the Foreign Minister also mentioned about a side event which will be organized during the session to introduce the recent adoption by the General Assembly of the “United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders” or the “Bangkok Rules”, a project under the guidance of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha. This is a set of standards governing the treatment of female prisoners, taking into account the gender perspective and women’s human rights in the correctional regime. Foreign Minister Kasit also noted further Thailand’s commitment in improving the quality of life of the disabled, whereby Mr. Monthian Buntan, Thailand’s candidate to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the term 2013-2016, will deliver the statement about the progress Thailand has made after becoming a party to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) as well as participate in a seminar on the sideline about the political participation of persons with disabilities.
On his last note, the Foreign Minister declared Thailand’s readiness to undergo review under the Universal Periodic Review mechanism in October this year in the spirit of constructiveness and openness to improve the human rights situation in Thailand.
After delivering the speech at HRC 16, Foreign Minister Kasit attended the Conference on Disarmament (CD) on 1 May 2011 and delivered the speech focusing on Thailand’s leading role as a coordinating country for CD observers. In addition, Foreign Minister Kasit will meet with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, heads of various international organizations, as well as other Foreign Minister counterparts to further promote further cooperation in various topics of interest.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th