Page 28 - รายงานผลการประเมินสถานการณ์ด้านสิทธิมนุษยชนของประเทศไทย ปี 2563

areas. Certain ethnic groups, i.e. the Karen and Chao Ley (sea gypsies), still face
problems relating to land for habitation and cultivation, while some of them are being
prosecuted by state agencies. Furthermore, there is insufficient public participation in the

implementation of several state-owned or state-endorsed projects, such as mining
operation and seawall construction, which may impact local communities. Towards solving
these problems, the NHRCT recommends that the government improve or amend existing laws
to facilitate effective exercise of community rights, including by ethnic groups, to participate

in the management of natural resources. Local people should be allowed to voice their
opinions on any project which may impact their health and quality of life and appropriate
remedial measures should be provided to persons affected by such project.

On the right to health, in 2020 the government has made continuous efforts
in ensuring people’s better access to health care services through the development
of primary health care system, the reduction of congestion in public hospitals with the use
of technology, procurement of vaccines for disease prevention, etc. One health situation

of concern that should be monitored closely is the mental health problem, especially
live broadcast of suicide attempt online via social media, which might reflect insufficient
counseling services. Pollution from atmospheric particulate matter having a diameter
of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5) remains another health problem of serious concern.
It is found that some people are not well informed on how to protect themselves from
this health hazard or lack proper equipment to do so. Another important health issue is the

continued use of pesticide in farming which are harmful to health. There are still calls for
the continued use of paraquat and chlorpyrifos because there have not yet been alternative
substances which are equally effective and affordable for farmers to use. Recommendations
that the NHRCT puts forward to the government and concerned agencies include: intensifying
and expediting the survey and plan to prevent suicide through detection of a signal shown

up via online platform; enhancing knowledge and understanding about the danger of PM 2.5
and ways to protect oneself against such danger among the general public, ensuring equal
access to sufficient supply of protection equipment at affordable price for all; and finding
appropriate measures to alleviate the impact of the pesticide ban on affected farmers.

As for the right to education, statistics on access to education of Thailand’s
school-age population in 2020 are still of major concern. There are about two million school-age
population who cannot access education or school system, even though statistics on

school drop-out rates are at a relatively low level and show a tendency of decline. This
is despite the government’s concerted efforts to promote access to education through
the Student Loan Fund (SLF) and the Equitable Education Fund (EEF). On the quality of
education, the average scores by subject of the Ordinary National Educational Test (O-NET)
from 2019-2020 are fairly low, most of them being lower than 50%. The test results also show
discrepancy between schools in urban and rural areas. The NHRCT therefore recommends

that the government consider drawing a plan or adopt appropriate measures to ensure that

26 คณะกรรมการสิทธิมนุษยชนแห่งชาติ
National Human Rights Commission of Thailand