Thailand: seminar on the protection of freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly

Online seminar jointly organised with the Ministry of Justice, Thailand

On 21 May 2021, the Centre has organised an online seminar on the protection of the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly in Thailand. The seminar was jointly organised with the Minsitry of Justice, Thailand, in order to to raise awareness and deepen understanding among national stakeholders in Thailand, in particular relevant State and law enforcement officials, of the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly as enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Former Chair of the HR Committee, Prof. Yuval Shany, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Prof. Vitit Muntarbhorn, were invited as the resource persons of the seminar and gave in-depth and practical explanation of the issue and clarified what are the obligation of Thailand as a State party to the ICCPR, including permitted restrictions.

It was attended by more than 80 participants from different State bodies including:

• Office of Attorney General (Department of civil rights protection and legal aid)
• Office of the Court of Justice
• National Intelligence Agency
• Office of the National Security Council
• Ministry of Digital Economy and Society
• Ministry of Social Development and Human Security
• Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission
• Internal Security Operations Command
• Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre
• Royal Thai Police
  • Office of Royal Thai police policy making board
  • Special Branch Bureau
  • Police Education Bureau
  • Office of Legal Affairs and Litigation
  • Office of Information and Communication Technology
• Office of the Council of State
• Ministry of Interior
• Ministry of Labour
• Ministry of Justice
  • Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection
  • Department of Probation
  • Department of Special Investigation
  • Department of Correction
  • Rights and Liberties Protection Department

Each presentation by the resource persons was followed by Q&A session, where various questions were asked and matters were clarified in detail, including:

• To what extent protection of public health can justify the imposition of restrictions;
• Good practice in the protection of the freedom of expression in digital age;
• Protection and possible restriction of the freedom of expression online as well as juristiction of States in digital space; and
• Role of service providers and social media, among others.

The seminar was organised with support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Thailand.