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protect the environment and fight for justice to prepare a better life for
the next generation. These people were often seen as government’s
antagonists or obstacles to development. Influential people or officers
perceive them as trouble makers and believe that problems will vanish
if they are silenced. I think of them as inspiration and their stories will
continue to motivate and guide us until today.
As part of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand,
I had the opportunity to meet many of these unarmed heroes from
every region of the country. Today I would like to thank every women
who bravely take action to protect human rights despite being
threatened or intimidated. These are ordinary and yet extraordinary
women who never lose hope or feel tired as they try to create changes
for a better future. These are women who may not be known. These
are women who might have been wrongly labelled as bad persons,
offenders, government’s opponents, disobeyers of officer’s orders.
When time passes, I believe that their effort will be acknowledged as
greatly beneficial to the society. All of us should remember and thank
these women who are true source of inspiration for the next generation.
In the name of the Subcommittee on Women’s Rights of the National
Human Rights Commission of Thailand, we appreciate the importance
of women as human rights defenders. These women courageously
take on many essential roles in the fight for democracy, the protection
of human rights, community rights, freedom of speech and women’s
rights. They must be respected, complimented and honored and their
history and achievements recorded as major facilitators of social change
at the national level.

With wholehearted faith in human dignity,

Angkhana Neelapaijit
Committee Member of the National
Human Rights Commission of Thailand

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