Page 17 - Dignity and justice for all of us our voices are heard in Thailand

Executive Summary

When 60 years ago, on 10 December 1948, at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, the 58 Member States of the United Nations General
Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Thailand was one of the few Asian countries that led the way in
adopting the Declaration. As the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled, the Universal
Declaration was proclaimed by the General Assembly as “a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations,
towards which individuals and societies should strive by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their
universal and effective recognition and observance”. This anniversary is therefore of special significance for Thailand and the Thai
people, not only because of Thailand’s pioneering role in Asia in adopting the Universal Declaration, but also for the steps being
taken in making the provisions of the Declaration a reality for its people and addressing the challenges ahead.

The present publication is based on the realities, experiences and aspirations of many people throughout Thailand. It draws
upon research conducted in 2008 involving people in different regions of the country from a variety of social backgrounds, as
well as different gender and ages. Despite very diverse personal situations in terms of socio-economic realities, political views
and other aspects, there are important similarities in people’s experiences and expectations with regard to the promotion and
protection of their human rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This publication is organized following the 30 articles of the Declaration, which present the human rights and fundamental
freedoms to which all men and women, everywhere in the world, are entitled, without discrimination. Article 1 lays down the
philosophy on which the Declaration is based, defining the basic assumptions of the Declaration. Article 2 sets out the basic
principle of equality and non-discrimination, as regards the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Article 3,
the first cornerstone of the Declaration, proclaims the right to life, liberty and security of person – a right essential to the
enjoyment of all other rights. This article introduces Articles 4 to 21, in which other civil and political rights are set out, including:
freedom from slavery and servitude; freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; the right
to recognition everywhere as a person before the law; the right to an effective judicial remedy; freedom from arbitrary arrest,
detention or exile; the right to a fair trial and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal; the right to be presumed
innocent until proved guilty; freedom from arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home or correspondence; freedom of
movement and residence; the right of asylum; the right to a nationality; the right to marry and to found a family; the right to
own property; freedom of thought, conscience and religion; freedom of opinion and expression; the right to peaceful assembly
and association; and the right to take part in the government of one’s country and to equal access to public service in
one’s country.

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