Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, has been presented with the “Human Rights Devotee” award by the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand. On 26 January 2012, Mr. Vijavat Isarabhakdi, Director-General of the Department of International Organizations, represented Mr. Sihasak in receiving the award from Professor Amara Pongsapich, Chair of the National Human Rights Xommission of Thailand, during a ceremony held to commemorate the 2011 “International Human Rights Day 10 December”.
Mr. Sihasak has recorded outstanding achievements on human rights at both the regional and international levels. He served as Chair of the High Level Panel on an ASEAN human rights body which successfully drafted the Terms of Reference of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). He was also the first Asian to serve as President of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). During his term as President of the HRC, Mr. Sihasak led negotiations on various important and urgent matters, especially the review of the work and functioning of the HRC, the outcome of which will assist in ensuring that the HRC becomes a more efficient and credible body. One of the priorities for Mr. Sihasak was to ensure that the HRC has real impact and makes a difference to the lives of the people on the ground.
Under Mr. Sihasak’s chairmanship, the HRC discussed various urgent human rights situations, such as in C?te d’Ivoire, Libya and Syria. Various new human rights norms and standards were also discussed and adopted, such as the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure and the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training. The HRC also, for the first time, adopted a resolution on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Apart from working to enhance human rights at the international level, Mr. Sihasak has also placed importance on promoting human rights at home. He helped to generate momentum for the national process on the drafting of Thailand’s national report under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the HRC and promoted greater cooperation between Thailand and the HRC’s Special Procedures. He also participated in various activities to disseminate information on human rights to the general public.
Apart from Mr. Sihasak, other distinguished personalities who received the “Human Rights Devotee” award were Gothom Arya, Director of Mahidol University’s Research Centre for Peace Building, American pastor Joseph Maier, Krittiya Achavanichkul from Mahidol University’s Institute for Population and Social Research and Walai Na Pombejra, an academic.
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