Amnesty International Thailand

Amnesty International Thailand
Official logo of Amnesty Thailand
Founded 1993 (registered in 2003)
Type NGO
Purpose humanitarian, activism, lobbying
Headquarters Bangkok, Thailand
Services Protecting human rights
Fields Media-attention, direct-appeal campaigns, mobilization, research
Membership (2016)
Approximately 1,000[1]
Official language
Thai, English
Current Director
 Piyanut Kotsan[2]
Current Chairperson
 Pornpen Khongkachonkiet[3]
Affiliations Amnesty International
Website amnesty.or.th

Amnesty International Thailand (also known as Amnesty Thailand and AI Thailand) is a non-governmental organisation focused on the protection of human rights in Thailand and worldwide with more than 1,000 members across Thailand.[4] Amnesty Thailand is one of more than 50 sections that make up Amnesty International worldwide.[5]

Amnesty International, as a whole, is an organization of more than 7 million supporters, activists and volunteers in over 150 countries,[6] with complete independence from government, corporate and any interest group.[7] It works to mobilise public opinion to put pressure on governments that let abuse take place. The organisation was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.[8]

Amnesty International Thailand was established in 1993 and registered with the Thai Government ten years later in 2003 as an association. Their headquarters are located in Chatuchak, Bangkok. In 2016, Amnesty International also opened its South East Asia and Pacific Regional Office in Pathum Wan, Bangkok.

Campaigns

Amnesty Thailand works in cooperation with government, private organisations and independent bodies, and conducts various activities to promote understanding and protection human rights on a large scale.

In June 2016, Amnesty International Thailand urged the Thai government to drop all charges against 13 pro-democracy activists and release 7 activists who were campaigning to reject the new constitution draft in the incoming constitutional referendum.[9]

In June 2016, Amnesty International Thailand together with Thai Netizen Network also launched an online petition[10] to rewrite amendments to the Computer-related Crime Act aiming to keep it in line with international laws and standards. According to Amnesty Thailand, the current bill would pose threats to civil liberties, privacy, trade secrets, and security of the internet.[11]

Amnesty Thailand also presents annual Media Awards to honour Thai media organizations and professionals who have produced outstanding reporting about human rights, in order to promote freedom of the press and encourage more such stories.[12]

Missions of Amnesty International Thailand

The missions of Amnesty Thailand are largely based on the protection of the Human Rights as explained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights[13] Amnesty Thailand campaigns and advocates for :

Organizational structure

Amnesty International Thailand is composed of members who elect the Board Members and Chairperson. Each year there is an Annual General Meeting (AGM) where the future of the organization and other important topics are being discussed and approved by attending members.

As of 2016 Amnesty Thailand includes at least three main task forces;

  • Campaign
    • Policy and Advocacy
    • Activism
    • Media and Communication
  • Growth and Mobilization
    • Fundraising
    • Membership
  • Administration
    • Finance

Support

Amnesty Thailand are currently financially supported by Amnesty International and individual donations from more than 1,000 members across Thailand.[16] It is planning to launch a digital fundraising program within 2017 and has recently launched a face-to-face fundraising team based in Bangkok and its vicinity. The first ever face-to-face fundraising program took place in January 2016 at Victory Monument, Ratchathewi District, and at One Udomsuk community mall, Bang Na District.

Under military rule

After the military seized power in a 2014 coup d'état, Amnesty International Thailand has deep concern about human rights violations and abuses in the country. The organization is criticized over being a rival of Prayut Chan-o-cha's government and as to serve Thaksinocracy in order to overthrow the Royal Family.[17]

In July 2015, a board member of Amnesty International Thailand was summoned from the police as a result of showing his support for 14 young activists in their rally against the junta. According to the police, he contravened against Article 116 of Thailand’s Criminal Code.[18]

In November 2016, Amnesty Thailand organized an event to screen a documentary "White Shadow" in collaboration with students from Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University. Despite the local military's permission, the event was barred from the faculty’s Deputy Dean informing that the content was too sensitive for the current situation in the country even though it focused on albinos body parts hunting in Malawi.[19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "แอมเนสตี้ อินเตอร์เนชั่นแนล คือใคร?". Oknation.net. 2008-11-01. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  2. ↑ https://th.linkedin.com/in/piyanut-kotsan-60b57113
  3. ↑ "Thai activists charged over 'military torture' report - BBC News". Bbc.com. 2016-07-26. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  4. ↑ "Job, job apply, find job, job search, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL THAILAND | Bangkok Post job search - Bangkok Post Jobs". Job.bangkokpost.com. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  5. ↑ "Centro de Documentación de Amnistía Internacional". Doc.es.amnesty.org. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  6. ↑ "What is Amnesty International". Pages.uoregon.edu. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  7. ↑ "Amnesty International Thailand". issuu. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  8. ↑ "The Nobel Peace Prize 1977". www.nobelprize.org. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  9. ↑ "Amnesty International prepares petition in defence of pro-democracy activists - The Nation". Nationmultimedia.com. 2016-07-05. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  10. ↑ "เครือข่ายพลเมืองเน็ตยื่น 40,000 รายชื่อหยุด Single Gateway - VoiceTV". News.voicetv.co.th. 2016-07-07. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  11. ↑ "Thailand's new computer crime bill is a mess". Telecom Asia. 2016-07-07. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  12. ↑ "In recognition of excellence - The Nation". Nationmultimedia.com. 2016-02-06. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  13. ↑ "The Nation in cooperation with Amnesty International Thailand". The Nation, Friday, July 10, 1998, page B3.
  14. ↑ "จดหมายเปิดผนึกว่าด้วยวิกฤตผู้ลี้ภัยและผู้โยกย้ายถิ่นฐานในภูมิภาคเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้". Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  15. ↑ "Taking injustice personally". www.amnesty.org. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  16. ↑ "าสาสมัครระหว่างประเทศเพื่อสิทธิมนุษยชน Amnesty International Thailand ( AI )". oknation.net. 2007-11-04. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  17. ↑ "คอลัมน์...จับได้ไล่ทัน : ขบวนการสิทธิมนุษยชนจอมปลอม สมคบซ่อน แผนบ่อนทำลายเบื้องสูง".
  18. ↑ "High profile Thai human rights defender accused of seditio".
  19. ↑ "Movie about albinos in Africa too sensitive for Khon Kaen University".
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