On 9 December 2008, Mr. Norachit Sinhaseni, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, delivered his remarks along with Ms. Gwi-Yeop Son, United Nations Resident Coordinator and Mr. Surasee Kosolnawi, National Human Rights Commissioner at the opening ceremony of the Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, co-organized by the United Nations Country Team in Thailand and the Office of the National Human Rights Commission at Jamjuree Square, Chulalongkorn University. At the opening ceremony, recorded messages from Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations Secretary-General and Ms. Navanethem Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights were also broadcasted.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the 3rd Session of the General Assembly in 1948 and the tenth of December this year, which is also Human Rights Day, marks the 60th anniversary upon its adoption. Thailand has organized various human rights-related activities throughout 2008 in order to join the world community and the United Nations in celebrating this special occasion. In the 60th Anniversary Commemoration event, the Universal Declaration booklets were distributed. This revised Thai language translation, published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to make the Universal Declaration more accessible and easier to understand for the general public. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also published the new child-friendly edition of the Declaration and the Thai-version Declaration in Braille as parts of its activities to celebrate this special event. These materials are already distributed to schools, libraries and foundations for the blind throughout the country. Besides those publications, the Ministry has launched human rights education campaign since last July through various media such as newspapers, radio, television and the website www.mfa.go.th/humanrights as additional tools to create human rights awareness in the Thai society.
Furthermore, the tenth of December 2008 marks the beginning of the International Year of Human Rights Learning, which will continue until the tenth of December 2009. On this occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, will host a human rights seminar and exhibition for over 1,000 students and teachers on 17 December 2008 at IMPACT Convention Center, Muang Thong Thani. Such the above-mentioned human rights-related materials and publications will also be distributed at the event.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.