Statement of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT)
supporting the government’s measures to assist the Rohingya people
and eliminating human trafficking

As it appears in the media that the Government of Thailand is determined to resolve problems of the Rohingya people and that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) proposed that a joint working group among countries in the region be established, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is assigned to organize a meeting comprising of 15 countries affected by the migration of the Rohingya in order to find common approach among governments and international organizations in solving the issue.

The NHRCT, with the responsibility to promote, respect, and protect human rights, in compliance with the human rights principles, supports the government actions with the goal in solving the issue with the following statements:

1. The NHRCT supports the government in recognizing the importance and seriousness of the problem of human trafficking as well as the complexity and multidimensional context of the issue. The NHRCT also supports the government’s determination to deal with issue rapidly and concretely as recommended by the UN Committee of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT);

2. The NHRCT supports the government and relevant agencies to accelerate the implementation of the policy with concrete action plan in combating human trafficking with prompt investigation, bringing offenders to justice and reporting the progress to the public.

3. The Thai Government together with relevant agencies should establish international cooperation strategy involving countries affected by human trafficking and transnational crime in order to work together to find ways in preventing human trafficking which is illegal and serious human rights violation.

4. The NHRCT requests the Thai Government to solve problems of the Rohingya people by cooperating with other relevant countries and the United Nations in implementing humanitarian programs including setting up temporary shelters, with specific aims to protect women and children and prevent sexual violence.

The NHRCT stands ready to cooperate and support the government and other relevant agencies in building a society which respects human dignity and wishes that the problem of human trafficking be eliminated in the near future.

 The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand
15 May 2015
 

15/05/2015