During 3-4 February 2010, Mr. Nadhavathna Krishnamra, Director of Social Division, Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Col. Krisna Bovornratanaraks, Director of Military Legislation and Foreign Affairs Division, Ministry of Defence; and Mr. Piyapak Sricharoen, Cousellor, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducted a seminar on “Human Rights, International Organizations and the Southern Border Provinces” to army personnel and police officers at all levels from unit commanders to rangers in the Southern Border Provinces (SBPs).
This event is the 4th human rights training seminar that has been co-organized by the Royal Thai Army and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Such seminar is conducted periodically with a view to raising human rights awareness among the security personnel in the SBPs and ensuring that those state officers will understand their duties in the promotion and protection of human rights, and in particular strictly adhere to the country’s international human rights obligations while conducting security operations. At this particular training, special focus was given to the protection and promotion of the rights of women and children.
In addition to providing basic knowledge of international human rights obligations to the security officers on the ground, the seminar was also aimed at “training the trainers” in order that these unit commanders and mid ranking officers may disseminate human rights information to all their subordinates in the SBPs.
Such human rights seminars have proven to be very useful for security personnel as they can gain an awareness of the “dos” and “don’ts” regarding human rights when they are on duty. Attendees at the seminars conveyed that they have obtained useful information to enable them to uphold human rights with a view to fostering solidarity and development in the SBPs.
Human rights education and awareness-raising for law enforcement officers are regarded as the priority of human rights policy in Thailand. Apart from the training, the Royal Thai Army has, for the first time, developed a human rights manual and human rights soldier cards to be distributed to all armed forces personnel in the SBPs. All these activities represent the attempt to implement the Royal Thai Government’s policy on the promotion and protection of human rights in conformity with the laws.
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