See full PDF letter (EN) | See full pdf letter (Thai)
Proposed Thailand law threatens civil society organizations combatting human trafficking
On 17 June, dozens of human rights and labour rights organizations released a letter expressing deep concern regarding Thailand’s draft Act on the Operation of Not-for-Profit Organizations. If enacted, the draft law would pose serious threats to the functioning of Thai civil society as well as have a deeply damaging impact on both donors and international non-governmental organizations working to address human rights in Thailand, including human trafficking and labour rights in Thailand. LRWC was among 41 signatories calling on the US Department of State and the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, to advocate that the Thai government withdraw the bill.
The letter was initiated by the Seafood Working Group (SWG), a global coalition of labour, human rights, and environmental organizations working to end forced labour in the seafood industry. The SWG is convened by Global Labor Justice–International Labor Rights Forum (GLJ–ILRF). LRWC is a member of the SWG. See the full letter in English and Thai.
On 31 May 2021, LRWC issued a statement recommending that the Royal Thai Government withdraw the draft NGO law and conduct full and meaningful consultations with civil society to ensure that all NGO laws comply with international human rights law and standards.
