Thai – 2nd – Human Rights Defenders
| Chapter 3 3.3. Action Plan on Human rights defenders 3.3.5 Action Plan and Indicators Duty of State |
| No. | Issues | Connections to UNGP | Project/activity | Responsible Agencies | Time frame (2023-2027) | Indicators | In Compliance with National Strategy / 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan / SDGs/ UNGPs. | |
| 2 | Amendments to laws, regulations, policies and related measures | 1 | 2.1 Consider, formulate, review, improve or amend laws, measures, mechanisms, and processes to enable the protection of human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders (WHRDs) and other vulnerable groups to work safely both off-line and online, in alignment with international human rights laws and standards.* | Main Agencies -Ministry of Justice (Rights and Liberties Protection Department) – Office of the Attorney General Supporting Agencies – Ministry of Social Development and Human Security | 2023-2027 | – Consider/ develop/ review/improve/ amend laws, measures, mechanisms, and processes for the protection of human rights defenders. | – National Strategy on National security – National Strategy on Public Sector Rebalancing and Development – The 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan, Milestone 13 – SDG 16 – UNGPs Article 1,3,5,7 | |
| 2 | Amendments to laws, regulations, policies and related measures | 1 | 2.2 Review, amend, develop, and Implement preventive measures for effective safeguards against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP).* | Main Agencies – Office of the Attorney General Supporting Agencies – Ministry of Justice (Rights and Liberties Protection Department) – Office of National AntiCorruption Commission | 2023-2027 | – Measures are in place to enhance the prevention of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation | – National Strategy on National security – National Strategy on Public Sector Rebalancing and Development – The 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan, Milestone 13 – SDG 16 – UNGPs Article 1, 3, 5, 7 | |
| 2 | Amendments to laws, regulations, policies and related measures | 1 | 2.3 Identify lessons learned, exchange knowledge, development of knowledge, and consult human rights defenders both nationally and internationally for constructive operation.* | Main Agencies – Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Ministry of Justice (Rights and Liberties Protection Department) Supporting Agencies – Ministry of Defense – Royal Thai Police | 2023-2027 | – Projects/activities for identifying lessons learned, knowledge exchanges, knowledge development, and national and international consultations on human rights defenders | – National Strategy on National security – National Strategy on Public Sector Rebalancing and Development – The 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan, Milestone 13 – SDG 11, 16 – UNGPs Article 1, 3, 5, 7 | |
| 3 | Create understanding | 1 | 3.1 Create knowledge and understanding of the role of human rights defenders among all stakeholders | Main Agencies – Ministry of Justice (Rights and Liberties Protection Department) Supporting Agencies – Ministry of foreign Affairs | 2023-2027 | – Projects/ activities/ publication to raise awareness on the roles of human rights defenders – Participants’ level of knowledge and understanding of the projects/activities/lesson s from publication | – National Strategy for Creating Opportunities and Social Equality – The 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan, Milestone 12 – SDG 16, 17 – UNGPs Article 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 | |
| 3 | Create understanding | 1 | 3.5 Provide training activities for officials in the justice processes and law enforcement officials, including witness protection officials. Create understanding and increase the capacity to effectively implement human rights defender protection laws, measures, and mechanisms.* | Main Agencies – Ministry of Justice (Rights and Liberties Protection Department /Department of Special Investigation) Supporting Agencies – Ministry of Defence – Royal Thai Police – Office of the Attorney General | 2023-2027 | Projects/activities to build an understanding of human rights defenders’ protection measures/mechanisms to officials in the judicial processes | – National Strategy on Public Sector Rebalancing and Development -The 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan, Milestone 13 – SDG 11, 16, 17 – UNGPs Article 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 | |
| 3 | Create understanding | 1 | 3.7 Outreach to communities and human rights defenders to inform them about their rights, various state assistance services, access channels, and methods of implementation. The information focuses on the rights in the justice processes, the bail process, law enforcement, etc.* | Main Agencies – Ministry of Justice (Rights and Liberties Protection Department) Supporting Agencies – Office of the Attorney General | 2023-2027 | – Knowledge sharing channel to human rights defenders on human rights, state services, and other assistance | – National Strategy on Human Resource Development and Empowerment – National Strategy on Public Sector Rebalancing and Development – The 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan, Milestone 8 – SDG 11, 16 – UNGPs Article 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 | |
| 5 | Mediation/Prosecution Mechanisms | 3 | 5.2 Train and increase the capacity of mediators and equip them with knowledge and understanding of human rights protection and human rights defenders. Enhance understanding of gender-sensitive cases among children and youth. | Main Agencies – Ministry of Justice (Rights and Liberties Protection Department) | 2023-2027 | – Mediator training projects/activities – Number of trained mediators | – National Strategy on Public Sector Rebalancing and Development – The 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan, Milestone 13 – SDG 16 – UNGPs Article 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 27, 28, 29 | |
| 5 | Mediation/Prosecution Mechanisms | 3 | 5.3 Assist human rights defenders in accessing justice. | Main Agencies – Ministry of Justice (Justice Fund/Rights and Liberties Protection Department) – Office of the Attorney General | 2023-2027 | – Available channels/mechanisms/ measures to assist human rights defenders in accessing the justice system | – National Strategy on Public Sector Rebalancing and Development – The 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan, Milestone 13 – SDG 16 – UNGPs Article 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31 | |
| Corporate Responsibility 1. Compliance with laws, measures, and human rights principles on the protection of human rights defenders 1.1 State enterprises and businesses shall review the rules, regulations, and policies in their organisations. They should promote subsidiaries, affiliates, and supply chains to replicate the same practices and seek to understand and support the amendment of rules and regulations for the protection of human rights defenders. They should ensure human rights defenders will not be unfairly dismissed or prosecuted for demanding human rights for themselves, for other individuals, or for the public interest.* 1.2 State enterprises and businesses shall disseminate laws, measures, rules, regulations, policies, and human rights principles applicable to the protection of human rights defenders to their personnel, including accessible channels for information.* 2. Provide knowledge and understanding of the duties of human rights defenders 2.1 State enterprises and businesses should review and assign specific staff or an entity in their respective business organisations to provide information, organise training activities, publicise, and foster an accurate understanding of the roles of human rights defenders to their staff and affiliated entities, including their connections and network. They should participate in activities organised by government agencies on the above topics.* 2.2 State enterprises and businesses should set up a platform to dialogue with human rights defenders to foster an understanding of their collaboration. 3. Establish measures to protect human rights defenders 3.1 State enterprises and businesses should engage with government agencies in developing measures to protect human rights defenders and strengthen understanding of their roles. 3.2 State enterprises, businesses, and civil society should cooperate with the government and international organisations as and when required to supply information on actions or lawsuits 178 against human rights defenders. This includes providing information on the overall situation of the disputes and working with human rights defenders.* 4. Grievance Mechanisms and Remediation 4.1 State enterprises and businesses should establish a channel or a platform to consult with human rights defenders for understanding and constructive engagement. The platform may involve grievance handling to prevent, mitigate, and remedy adverse human rights impacts.* |
4.2 State enterprises and businesses should provide clear channels for receiving complaints and assign a specific coordinator to handle complaint. They may consider dialogues and consultations with human rights defenders as methods for dispute resolution. Additionally, they may contact applicable local state agencies when using mediation for dispute resolution. State enterprises and businesses should avoid taking any legal actions against any human rights defenders who protect their rights, other individuals’ rights, or public interests.* * The activity was implemented under the First National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights but requires further action or has been adapted from the First National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights after being fully or partially implemented.