GENEVA (11 July 2025) – UN experts* today expressed
grave concern over ongoing judicial proceedings against Thai
woman human rights defender Pimsiri Petchnamrob, calling on
the Government to drop charges against her and other human
rights defenders who participated in pro-democracy
protests.
“Lèse-majesté laws, with their
vague formulation and severe penalties, have no place in a
democracy. Their widespread and punitive use to silence
dissent, suppress public debate, and intimidate human rights
defenders, political opponents, civil society activists,
journalists, and ordinary citizens violates Thailand’s
international human rights obligations,” the experts said.
“We urge authorities to drop the charges against
Petchnamrob and all others facing criminal prosecution on
similar grounds immediately.”
In November 2021,
Pimsiri Petchnamrob wasindictedunder a total of ten
charges, including under Section 112
(lèse-majesté), Section 116 (sedition), and
Section 215 (participation in an illegal assembly) of the
Criminal Code, for delivering a speech during a peaceful
pro-democracy protest in November 2020. Petchnamrob is among
at least five human rights defenders who were indicted for
delivering speeches at the same protest. Her trial, which
began in June 2025, is ongoing before the Criminal Court on
Ratchadaphisek Road, with two additional hearings scheduled
in August, followed by the delivery of a
judgment.
The experts cited findings from
a recent country visit report
by the Working Group on discrimination against women and
girls. The report noted that at least 470 women human rights
defenders have been arrested and prosecuted under Sections
112 and 116 since 2020. “These punitive charges often
result in financial hardship, deteriorating health and
significant challenges around family care,” they
said.
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“We reiterate
our call to the Government of Thailand to revise and repeal
lèse-majesté laws, which have a broad chilling
effect on the exercise of rights to freedom of expression
and peaceful assembly, leading to a climate of fear and
self-censorship,” the experts said. “Public figures,
including the highest political authorities, are
legitimately subject to criticism.”
“Thailand must
stop criminalising individuals who carry out the critical
work of defending civic space and human rights,” they
said.
The experts have been in contact with the
Government of Thailand on these matters, including to
express concerns about prosecutions under Section 112 of the
Criminal Code.
Note:
*The
experts: Laura Nyirinkindi (Chair), Claudia Flores
(Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Ivana Krstić, and
Haina Lu, Working
Group on discrimination against women and girls;
Irene Khan, Special
Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to
freedom of opinion and expression; Gina Romero,
Special
Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and
of association; Mary Lawlor, Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights
defenders
Special Rapporteurs/Independent
Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts
appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Together, these experts are referred to as the Special
Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special
Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not
UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While
the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for
Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual
capacity and are independent fromany government or
organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or
opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not
necessarily represent those of the UN or
OHCHR.
