Page 149 - Dignity and justice for all of us our voices are heard in Thailand

Findings and the Way Forward

Findings

The views gathered in this publication reveal that there has been remarkable progress and many achievements made towards
the implementation of the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights since Thailand adopted the Declaration 60
years ago. The legal standing of human dignity, rights, liberty and justice has become a firm cornerstone on which people from
all walks of life can rely for the protection and promotion of their rights. The voices and reflections contained in this publication,
however, also draw our attention to the fact that the country still faces many challenges in ensuring the full enjoyment of these
rights for all.

This publication, which is issued on the occasion of the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, is an attempt to encourage a forward-looking vision in the continuous efforts to promote and protect human
rights in Thailand. It is hoped that this presentation of the Declaration, including details on each article as well as discussions
based on voices, commentaries, and recommendations across a wide range of dimensions, will contribute to increasing
awareness and realizing dignity, rights, liberties and justice for us all.

Some highlights of the key achievements

In 1948, together with 47 other United Nations Member States, Thailand voted in favour of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. This Declaration has since served as the foundation for the protection of the inherent dignity and the equal and
inalienable rights of all peoples. On numerous occasions, Thailand has been internationally recognized for its total adherence to
the principles enshrined in the Declaration. While it would be a challenge to list all the country’s achievements in this regard, the
voices and comments in this publication have pointed to some important developments.

Over the past 60 years, Thailand has been a proactive international partner in becoming a party to different international human
rights instruments emanating from the aspirations in the Declaration. It has already acceded to seven core United Nations
human rights instruments: the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 8
September 1985 and its protocol on 20 December 2000; the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on 26 April 1992
(Thailand is also in the process of preparing to sign and ratify its two Optional Protocols: the Optional Protocol on the
Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child
Pornography); the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) on 29 January 1997; the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) on 5 December 1999; the International Convention on Elimination of All Forms of

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