Statement by H.E. Mr. Vijavat Isarabhakdi, Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, at the Leaving No One Behind: the Equal Rights Coalition Global Conference on LGBTI Human Rights and Inclusive Development
5–7 August 2018, Vancouver, Canada
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
It is indeed an honor for me to represent Thailand at this important and timely meeting — to witness and take part in the Coalition’s efforts to advance the human rights and inclusion of LGBT persons. For me, it is a personal pleasure to be back in this beautiful country with its warm and friendly people once again. I wish to thank the Canadian and Chilean governments for giving us this opportunity to hear first-hand the voices of the LGBTI communities from around the globe.
As some of you may already know, Thailand is home to one of the first ever transgender politicians. We possess the highest rate of sex reassignment surgeries in the world. And we are now moving towards becoming the first Southeast Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage through legislation.
Thailand’s Constitution guarantees equal rights and protection under the law and non-discrimination to everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Our Gender Equality Act, passed several years ago, is a milestone legislation for addressing discrimination beyond gender binary. Our National Human Rights Plan includes a specific section on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Thai society is firmly rooted in a culture of tolerance and acceptance, embracing LGBTI persons and others, both nationals and visitors, from all walks of life, and from every corner of the world.
Yet, we recognize that much more remains to be done. Last year the Thai Government declared human rights a national agenda. We are finalizing our Civil Partnership Bill to ensure the right to marry, the right to property and the right to child adoption, among others, for LGBTI persons. We have also started to implement separate measures for such persons, including providing separate facilities for LGBTI inmates in some of our major penitentiaries.
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
This has been a most valuable conference. We have learned a lot over the past two days, including best practices and innovative solutions involving LGBTI issues. But our work must not stop here. We must continue to promote human rights education to raise awareness, especially among children and youth, as well as to engage civil society, local communities and the private sector,
in an inclusive and participatory process.
This Conference has inspired us to do more, and to work harder until the noble goals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for all peoples is fully realized. The freedom, dignity and equal rights to which we are all entitled from the day of our birth must be a living reality each and every day of our lives.
I thank you.
