On 16 December 2025, The European Union and Thailand convened in Brussels the first meeting of the EU - Thailand Specialised Working Group on Human Rights and Governance established under the EU - Thailand Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The meeting marks a significant milestone in advancing human rights and governance frameworks between the EU and Thailand.

The EU and Thailand stressed their attachment to democratic principles and fundamental freedoms. They exchanged on key developments on human rights and agreed to deepen their dialogue, identifying areas for further cooperation under available instruments and policy frameworks.

The discussions covered civil and political rights, including political freedoms, democratic space, freedom of association, assembly, as well as freedom of expression and media. Both sides expressed their shared commitment to nurturing political dialogue and enhancing democratic frameworks. The EU and Thailand committed to protect human rights defenders against violence, harassment and to continue providing an enabling environment for civil society. The two sides discussed on Thailand’s plan to develop the Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) law, on which the EU side offered expert-level cooperation. The EU has brought to the attention of the Thai counterparts several individual cases, including those at risk of violating the principle of non-refoulement.

Thailand informed the EU on the human rights aspects of the border conflict with Cambodia. The EU is looking forward to the peaceful and swift resolution of the conflict with respect to international law.

Regarding economic, social, and cultural rights, the discussions covered gender equality, LGBTIQ+ rights, rights of persons with disabilities, and the protection of people belonging to minority and ethnic groups. The EU congratulated Thailand on passing the Act on Amendment of Civil and Commercial Code (No. 24) B.E. 2567 (2024) (Marriage Equality Law), which enshrines into law the equal recognition of relationships for same-sex couples. Thailand informed of the drafting of Anti-discrimination Act. Additionally, environmental rights and the right to health were discussed, underscoring the necessity for access to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. In this context, Thailand expressed interest in cooperating with the EU to promote access to medicines and health security.

The EU and Thailand agreed on the importance of ensuring that businesses respect human rights. Thailand presented its measures to promote business and human rights, including the adoption of the 2^nd National Action Plans (NAPs) on Business and Human rights, and to draft mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence (mHREDD) legislation. The EU strongly welcomed these efforts and expressed readiness to share experiences and to cooperate, ensuring increased awareness and preparedness by the business community for the increased requirements and expectations. Thailand shared updates on the progress in the ratification of ILO conventions and other instruments pertaining to labour rights.

The EU and Thailand discussed the human rights implications of online scams and measures against scam centres. The EU side welcomed the recent International Conference on the Global Partnership against Online Scams, co-hosted by Thailand and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on 17 - 18 December 2025 in Bangkok. Both sides agreed to follow up with concrete cooperation in the prevention of online scams and related transnational crimes, including human trafficking, cybercrime, and training of law enforcement. They discussed ways to enhance assistance and explore solutions for displaced persons, while the EU acknowledged Thailand’s efforts and progress in empowering and promoting self-reliance for displaced persons in Thailand. The EU and Thailand also exchanged views on emerging global challenges such as digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and hybrid threats to human rights.

The EU and Thailand agreed on the importance of effectively implementing commitments and obligations under the international human rights law and UN conventions, while cooperating within the UN system (UNGA Third Committee, UN Human Rights Council and Thailand’s upcoming 4^th UPR review), as well as in the ASEAN context. The EU welcomed Thailand's aspiration to join the OECD. The EU and Thailand will work together to identify possible areas of cooperation that could be supportive of Thailand’s accession process.

The meeting was co-chaired by Ms Leila Fernández-Stembridge, Head of the Southeast Asia and ASEAN Division at the European External Action Service, and Mr Triyarith Temahiwong, Director General of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department, Ministry of Justice of Thailand. The meeting was also joined by relevant European Commission services and Thai agencies.