A delegation of the International Commission against the Death Penalty (ICDP or Commission) undertook a mission to Thailand from 22 to 26 March 2024. The delegation was led by Commissioner Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former President of the Philippines, and Commissioner Tsakhia Elbegdorj, former President of Mongolia and comprised staff from the Secretariat.
During their visit to Bangkok, the delegation held meetings with the:
- Former Prime Minister H. E. Thaksin Sinawatra,
- Minister of Justice H. E. Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong,
- Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Phanthipa Iamsudha Ekarohit and Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Organizations Dr. Phuchphop Mongkolnavin,
- Chairperson of the Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice and Human Rights and Member of the House of Representatives Hon. Kamonsak Leewamoh,
- Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) Ambassador Pornprapai Ganjanarintr and several Members of the NHRCT and
- Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn, well-known academician on the issue of human rights in Thailand and in Southeast Asia and currently UN´s Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia.
During their meetings, ICDP Commissioners shared their experiences abolishing the death penalty in Mongolia and the Philippines during their presidencies, as well as the experiences of neighbouring countries in the region including Malaysia and Indonesia. The Commissioners acknowledged the fact that no executions have been carried out in Thailand since 2018 and encouraged authorities to consider a gradual approach to move away from the death penalty, to ensure the better respect, protection of the fundamental right to life, noting that the country has recently announced its candidacy to become a Member-State of the UN´s Human Rights Council.
The ICDP Secretariat also held meetings with the UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights in Bangkok, NGOs, and human rights advocates to exchange information and have an assessment of the situation on the ground.
Ambassador Felipe de la Morena Casado, Spain´s Ambassador to Thailand hosted a reception in honour of the visiting ICDP delegation for the ICDP Support Group based in Bangkok. The timely event enabled ICDP Commissioners Presidents Macapagal Arroyo and Elbegdorj to present the purpose of the visit to the attending delegates from ICDP Member States and to listen to the views of the diplomats on the situation of the death penalty in Thailand.
Read the article by the Public Relations Department of the Government of Thailand on Commissioner Elbegdorj's media interview: