Thailand under review : an analysis of the universal periodic review of Thailand

Abstract

When the United Nations Human Rights Council was established in 2006, one of the initiatives introduced was a review of the human rights situation in member states. The initiative, known as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), was set up with the ultimate goal of improving the human rights situation in every country. In 2016, the UPR undertook its second cycle of reviewing member states' adherence to internationally recognised human rights standards, and Thailand was reviewed for the second time. With human rights organisations and advocates dedicating considerable resources to ensure that rights concerns are highlighted and raised in the UPR process, a central aspect of the initiative - the human rights recommendations offered by reviewing States - are rarely analysed. This study undertook a critical assessment of the formulation, reception, role and implementation of human rights recommendations which are offered to Thailand. It intended to unveil lessons about the human rights recommendations offered to Thailand, and the UPR initiative itself, so that civil society can be better informed when approaching future UPR cycles on Thailand