The Thai Constitution Day is observed every year on 10 December, and Human Rights Day is also internationally commemorated on the day, beginning in 1948 when the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). After encountering human tragedy in World War II, the Declaration is one of the world's most important documents demonstrating the determination of mankind to jointly create the world of equality and non-discrimination where everyone respects rights, freedoms, equality and dignity of others.
          In the year 2020, all people around the world face the great health crisis from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been exacerbated by problems of poverty, discrimination, social exclusion, inequality, domestic violence, destruction of natural resources and the inability to access human rights protection mechanisms. Therefore, the United Nations has campaigned for the international community to pay more attention to address the impacts of the pandemic crisis by placing importance to human rights perspectives in order to gain better recovery and resilience under the concept "Recover Better - Stand Up for Human Rights".
          In Thailand, the human rights situation has been unavoidably fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, and the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) has closely monitored the human rights impacts on people, particularly the vulnerable groups such as children in street situations, homeless people, persons with disabilities, abandoned older persons, labours in informal sector and stateless ethnic groups. It is also the time that the country faces the challenge when children, youth and also members of several groups actively and extensively exercising their rights to freedoms of expression and opinion as a democratic society. The NHRCT continuously monitors the situation of political demonstration. A National Human Rights Commissioner and our staff have been in demonstration sites to collect information. Such first-hand information will be useful for the NHRCT to respond to the situations in a timely manner, including to investigate the alleged human rights incidents. As one among other responses, the NHRCT called on the government, demonstrators and people with different opinions to recognize and respect human rights of others, to abide by the rule of law and to mutually seek a peaceful solution.
          On the occasion of Human Rights Day, the NHRCT as the national human rights institution, would like to encourage all parties to work together to overcome all crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, political participation and expression of different views, and natural disasters. We all must determine to respect human dignity, eliminate discrimination and believe in equality and diversity of people. This can flourish in a democratic society, and the country will stand tall and overcome all challenges with good spirits of people who stand up for human rights.
Attachment