On 1 March 2010, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya attended the 13th session of the Human Rights Council and a High-Level Panel Discussion on the Impact of Global Economic and Financial Crises on the Universal Realisation of Effective Enjoyment of All Human Rights. On the sidelines, Foreign Minister Kasit had bilateral meetings with Vice Prime Minister of Social and Human Rights Affairs of Equatorial Guinea, Foreign Ministers of Bangladesh and Iran, respectively. Discussions included how to promote bilateral cooperation, including the candidature of Thailand to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the term 2010-2013.
In the morning, Foreign Minister Kasit delivered a statement stressing the importance of the promotion and protection of human rights at the national level and Thailand’s part in creating an enabling environment in which human rights can flourish and prosper. At the regional level, Thailand has been advocating the establishment of a human rights body and fulfilled its responsibilities as ASEAN Chair with the establishment of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC).
At the global level, the hope and aspirations of the peoples with regard to their full and effective enjoyment of all human rights rest firmly with the Human Rights Council. Thailand believes that the Human Rights Council should be even-handed in addressing the many complex and pressing human rights challenges of today. Thailand is submitting its candidature to the Human Rights Council for the term 2010-2013, which reflects our faith in the Council and the high hopes we place on it.
In the afternoon, Foreign Minister Kasit delivered another two statements at the High-Level Panel Discussion on the Impact of Global Economic and Financial Crises on the Universal Realisation of Effective Enjoyment of All Human Rights. The first statement was delivered on behalf of the Foreign Policy and Global Health Initiative (FPGH), comprising, Brazil, France, Indonesia, Norway, Senegal, South Africa and Thailand, which come together to encourage new ideas, identify new mechanisms for partnerships and develop innovative patterns of cooperation in the field of foreign policy and global public health.
The members of the FPGH stressed on the specific impact of the economic and financial crisis on the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. More than one billion people face difficulties in accessing quality basic health services. This large number is increasing due to the overwhelming effects of recession and the lack of funds to meet the needs of the health sector, particularly in developing countries. This represents a major drawback to the attainment of the health-related MDGs. The common challenge is to find concrete answers on how to ensure the sustainability of health systems. International efforts to address health needs should be as bold as those made to save financial institutions from bankruptcy in recent times.
The members of the FPGH expressed concerns over limited progress on maternal and child health, MDGs 4 and 5, particularly maternal mortality. In several countries, progress towards achieving universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment, as well as treatment for other major diseases, is recently increasing at a lower rate. Access for everyone to medicines that are affordable, safe, effective and of good quality is one of the fundamental elements in the field of health. Moreover, hunger, extreme poverty as well as inequalities represent an added burden. If these scourges are not properly addressed, it is virtually impossible to reduce child and maternal mortality. Without political will, as well as due cooperation and financing at national and global levels, countries will fall short of fulfilling their common responsibility to mankind and to the promotion of public health and protection of human rights.
In the following statement in the national capacity, Foreign Minister Kasit stressed on the impact of the ongoing global financial crisis on human rights, such as the right to work, the right to food, and the right to health. The crisis has also adversely undermined the efforts of many developing countries in their realization of the MDGs. The Royal Thai Government has endeavoured to protect the rights of our people during the recent economic crisis, with a top priority to help the most vulnerable groups.
The Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 taught us a valuable lesson that moderation is the key to survival. To this end, Thailand has embraced an alternative development philosophy called “Sufficiency Economy” which emphasizes responsible consumption, which could cushion against some of the adverse effects of globalization. Freedom is the empowerment of the people to actually know what they want and to equip them with the tools to pursue it. The foremost key to such freedom is perhaps education.
Statement by FM Kasit Piromya at the Human Rights Council
http://www.mfa.go.th/internet/audio/1_FM%20statement%20HLS%20final.pdf
Statement by FM Kasit Piromya on behalf of the FPGH at the High-Level Panel Discussion
http://www.mfa.go.th/internet/audio/2_HRC_FPGH%20Statement_final.pdf
Statement by FM Kasit Piromya on behalf of Thailand at the High-Level Panel Discussion
http://www.mfa.go.th/internet/audio/3_FM%20Statement%20for%20Economic%20crises.pdf
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