Mrs. Visa Benjamano, National Human Rights Commissioner of Thailand (NHRCT) and the Chair to Sub-Committee on Implementing the Strategy on Rights of Children and Women and Equality of Persons states that the Fundamental Human Rights Principles embraced in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) that all are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination, while under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the State is obliged to ensure the full development and advancement of women for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a basis of equality with men.

Therefore the Sub-Committee on Implementing the Strategy on Rights of Children and Women and Equality of Persons would like to make proposals to the National Reform Council and the Constitution Drafting Committee as follows:

1. To retain the Principles of Gender Equity under the connotation of Section 30 and Section 80 of Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2550 (2007) to comply with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Article 2 which states that the State Party shall embody the principle of the equality of men and women in their national constitution

2. To regulate the Quota System to ensure women’s participation in the politics, not lower than one third of Party list of candidates within Constitution. This will comply with Article 4 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Commissioner Benjamano added that: “the placement of Quota System will truly benefit the society as the recent proportion of women taking part in Thai politics is very low; Thai is around 10 percent only. The placement of Quota System would be affirmative action to increase the opportunities given to women to participate in politics. The system will regulate that the number of Members of the Party’s List of the parliament and the local councils shall have proportion of the women not lower than one-third of all seats. Thus the potentials of more than half of population of Thailand–as female would be fully employed in maximum available capacities and it can lead to the comprehensive and holistic development policy of the country. Commissioner Benjamano opines that this affirmative action is regarded temporary measure to undertaking shall accelerate the gender equity and open more opportunities for women to take part in public sphere. All women will then be able to utilize their potentials similarly to men, in a manner of balanced and mutual supports of each other.”

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The Sub-Committee on Implementing the Strategy
on Rights of Children and Women and Equality of Persons
31st March 2015
 

31/03/2015