Explainer: Enforced Disappearances and Torture Finally Criminal Offences in Thailand

Abstract

Recently, Thailand passed an important human rights law following significant pressure from many parties including NGOs, victims of torture, relatives of the dead and missing, and investigative journalists. On 24 October 2022, the King signed into law the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearances Act which Parliament enacted on 26 August 2022. This was a significant event as Thailand has a history of enforced disappearances and torture. The legislative progress was exceedingly slow. Thailand acceded to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) in October 2007 and signed the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED) in January 2012 but did not proceed to ratification.