<div>We are concerned by amendments to Thai legislation that could threaten online freedoms, and call on the Government to ensure the country's cyber laws comply to international human rights standards.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The National National Legislative Assembly last week passed amendments to the 2007 Computer Crime Act that could severely restrict freedom of expression, opinion, assembly and privacy. The amendments enable the Government to obtain user information and traffic data from Internet service providers (ISPs) without court approval. </div>

<div> <div> <div>After police attempted to arrest a forest nomad in the middle of a human rights forum, a network of tribesmen in southern Thailand submitted a petition to the UN asking for protection from discrimination.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Friday, 26 August 2016, the Network of Southern Ethnic Minorities sent an urgent letter to the UN pleading for a protective measure for nomadic tribes in Thailand. </div></div></div>

<div><img alt="" src="http://newsfirst.lk/english/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/unhrc.jpg" /></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>GENEVA (26 July 2016) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, today condemned the alarmingly high number of arrests and charges over public and social media expression brought under military orders and the Constitutional Referendum Act in Thailand. </div>

<div> <div>A civil society network has said that although Thailand ratified the Convention against Torture almost a decade ago, the situation regarding torture in the country has hardly improved. </div></div>

<div> <div>Key red-shirt leaders have submitted a petition to the UN after the junta shut down their referendum monitoring centres in various provinces across the country, adding that the red shirts will invite EU delegates to participate in observing the referendum. </div></div>

<div>GENEVA (22 April 2016) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Friday expressed growing concern about the military’s deepening role in Thailand’s civilian administration, as well as tight curbs on dissent, as the Kingdom prepares to vote on a final draft Constitution.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>High Commissioner Zeid said that several critics of the draft Constitution have already been arbitrarily arrested, detained and harassed since the draft was made public at the end of March. </div>

<div id="fullstory"> <p>Deeply concerned by the frequency of acts of violence in many parts of the world against media professionals in armed conflict, the United Nations Security Council today adopted a resolution condemning all violations and abuses committed against journalists and strongly deploring impunity for such acts.</p> </div>

<div>GENEVA (2 April 2015) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Thursday expressed alarm at the Thai military Government’s announcement that it has invoked an article of the Interim Constitution that bestows unfettered authority on the head of the military government. </div>

<div>GENEVA (1 April 2015) – United Nations expert on freedom of expression David Kaye today urged the Government of Thailand to unequivocally distance itself from the Thai’s leader intimidating statements against freedom of the press, and take immediate measures to allow space for debate and freedom of expression.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>General Prayuth Chan-ocha, the leader of the coup that deposed the elected government of Thailand and assumed powers as Prime Minister in 2014, has said recently that journalists who criticize him or ‘causes divisions’ could be subjected to execution, and </div>

<p>9 December 2014 – The murders of two human rights defenders working on land and natural resource issues in the south of Thailand underscore the need for authorities in the country to take urgent measures to ensure the safety and protection of such people, United Nations said today.</p>

<div>Thailand’s credibility as a potential member of the United Nations Human Rights Council depends on the government’s addressing urgent human rights concerns at home, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, on October 18, 2014.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Thailand is a candidate, along with Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Qatar, for the four vacant Human Rights Council seats allocated for the Asia-Pacific region. </div>

<div><span>23 September 2014</span></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>We are very disappointed by the decision of an appellate court in Thailand affirming the conviction and sentencing of the editor and activist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk in Thailand on 19 September. Mr. Somyot, the editor of Voice of Thaksin magazine, was convicted under the lèse majesté law after the magazine published two articles deemed offensive to the King. In 2013, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison, and the sentence was upheld on Friday. </div>