On 1 May 2017, Mrs. Busaya Mathelin, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Professor Nantawat Boromanand, Dean of Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University, gave the opening remarks for “An Afternoon Talk on Human Rights” on Thailand’s obligations to the international human rights treaties and its implementation at the Narathip Auditorium, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  

          At this event, Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn, a renowned expert on human rights law, and the United Nations Independent Expert on Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (UN IE SOGI), delivered a keynote address on the said topic and spoke about his newly published book, “The Core Human Rights Treaties and Thailand.”  It was then followed by a panel discussion with representatives from the Rights and Liberty Protection Department, Ministry of Justice and the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand.  

          More than 120 representatives from Thai government agencies, civil society organizations, the Diplomatic Corps and International Organizations in Thailand attended the event. Participants asked questions and exchanged views on issues of interest such as civil and political rights, freedom of expression, human rights education, torture and enforced disappearance, criminal justice and rights of migrants.

          The event was an opportunity to take stock of Thailand’s progress in terms of the implementation of human rights obligations and reflect on priority areas as well as the future direction of human rights work in Thailand. Thailand will continue its endeavor in promoting, protecting and strengthening public-academic cooperation as well as engaging in dialogue for the exchange of best practices with interested countries and relevant international organizations.