UPR Sexual Rights Database

While the Act (Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act (1996)) treated prostitution of children as an aggravating offence imposing harsher penalties for younger children, it did not exempt child victims of prostitution from penalties under the law. Furthermore, Section 34 of the Act and Section 33 of the Anti-Trafficking Act, a judge was permitted to order a child victim to be confined in a Protection and Occupational Development Centre (PODC) for his 'rehabilitation' for a period of up to two years, which discourages child victims from reporting and has led to many child victims running away during the criminal process. [Para 25]

JS7 noted unskilled workers and those belonging to ethnic minorities without regular identity cards were being particularly disadvantaged in the labour market with a persistence of discrimination in access to work. JS7 recommended that the Government, inter alia, focus on the main causes, such as non-birth registration and education. [Para 47]

Sign and ratify ICCPR-OP1, OP-ICESCR [...]

Ratify the OP-ICESCR.

Continue to strengthen measures aimed at reducing gender-based violence against women and girls, in particular domestic violence and sexual violence.

JS11, JS12 and JS13 noted same-sex marriage and transgender identity were not legally recognised. LGBTIQ+ women, lesbian and transgender women were particularly vulnerable and suffered discrimination to access health and social services, employment, harassment and bullying. JS10, JS14 and JS26 also expressed concern about persistent discrimination of LGBTIQ+ youth in schools and the education and health systems, genderbased crimes, misrepresentation in media and degrading and humiliating treatment, due to lack of family acceptance, often resulting in mental health conditions. JS15 indicated LGBTIQ+ youth from indigenous communities were affected by homophobia and the lack of acceptance by their families. It further mentioned the increased risks that LGBTIQ women had of being forcibly married and “corrective rape”. [Para 8]

Adopt all necessary measures to eradicate the abuse and sexual exploitation of children [...]

Continue to work at the provincial level to execute memorandums of understanding to combat violence against women and children.

Welcomed efforts to combat sexual violence ...

JS6 recommended that Thailand ensure that the new Constitution include a provision specifically prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. [Para 10]

CEDAW recommended that Thailand address the root cause of trafficking by increasing its efforts to improve the economic situation of women.[Para 26]

From October 2018 to June 2021, 304 children and their families in the Immigration Detention Centres have received assistance while awaiting repatriation or travel to a third country. Assistance measures include: allowing the parent (on bail) to stay in the community with their children; allowing mothers and their children to stay on a temporary
basis in the Child Assistance Centres run by the Department of Child and Youth Affairs; searching for foster families for unaccompanied children; and allowing mothers and their children to stay in the Mother and Child Reception Centres run by the Immigration Bureau. [Para 59]