Fridae

LGBTQ+ rights advocates raised concerns about discrimination at a Bangkok briefing on 21 October, ahead of Thailand’s next UN human-rights review in November.

Pasuta Chuenkhachorn, a policy advocacy officer at TamTang, said discrimination persisted and challenged the use of LGBTQ+ people as a marketing tool for Pride tourism. “We want to have human rights as all humans deserve,” Pasuta said.

Manushya Foundation and the Thai CSOs Coalition for the UPR and UN Mechanisms organised the press conference. Its agenda brought LGBTQ+ concerns together with issues affecting migrant workers, Indigenous communities and other groups.

The forthcoming Universal Periodic Review gives other UN member states an opportunity to examine Thailand’s human-rights record and make recommendations. Each country goes through this peer-review process.

Manushya founder and executive director Emilie Palamy Pradichit called for measurable recommendations, then reforms with timelines, resources and community oversight. In her view, grassroots communities should have a say in defining problems and judging whether things improve.