U.S. Mission to International
Organizations in Geneva

U.S. Statement at the Universal Periodic Review of Thailand

39th Session

Statement read by Meryn Schneiderhan

The United States welcomes the delegation from Thailand. We recommend that Thailand:

1. Withdraw consideration of the Draft Law on the Operations of Not-for-Profit Organizations and other new legislation that could potentially restrict civic space in Thailand.
2. Review and revise laws and regulations that unduly restrict freedom of expression, including online expression, in particular the Computer Crimes Act and the 2005 Emergency Decree, and eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for lèse majesté violations.
3. Conduct prompt, transparent, and impartial investigations into reports of enforced disappearances, including in the case of Wanchalearm Satsakit and seven other Thai political activists missing since 2014.

We remain concerned by the expanded use of Article 112 of the Criminal Code and its impact on freedom of expression and civic space in Thailand.