Responding to the Thai parliament’s vote to approve in principle a draft law that seeks to criminalize both torture and enforced disappearances in Thailand for the first time, Emerlynne Gil, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Research, said:
“Amnesty International welcomes today’s development, which marks the first time legislation on these crimes has reached this stage. This symbolic act shows that the government recognizes the need to protect people against these heinous violations and to provide long-overdue justice to victims and their families.”
“Authorities must now take the next steps and ensure the existing draft laws are further developed to fully comply with Thailand’s international human rights obligations – and then swiftly enacted.”
“The government’s delay in making torture and enforced disappearances a criminal offence has denied victims’ access to justice and deterred others from coming forward. It has also sent a message to officials that they can carry out these violations with impunity.”
