Thailand: UN Human Rights Office welcomes new law on ethnic groups, urges recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples
Bangkok (24 September 2025) – The UN Human Rights Regional Office (OHCHR) for South-East Asia welcomes Thailand’s enactment of its new law on the protection and promotion of the ethnic groups’ ways of life, marking a significant step toward protecting the rights of ethnic groups in the country.
“The adoption of this law is a significant step for Thailand toward protecting the rights of ethnic groups and recognising their invaluable wisdom and vital contributions to the country,” said Cynthia Veliko, Representative of the UN Human Rights Regional Office for South-East Asia. “It gives communities that have long been marginalised a real voice in shaping the decisions that affect their lives.”
The Act on Protection and Promotion of the Way of Life of Ethnic Groups, which entered into force on 19 September 2025, affirms the principles of equality and non-discrimination, prohibits defamation and hate speech against ethnic groups, and guarantees a range of human rights. These include the preservation of languages, traditions and cultural practices; access to community-led education, public services and welfare; and the rights to land and natural resources within designated “Protected Areas of Way of Life of Ethnic Groups.”
Importantly, the Act promotes the participation of ethnic groups in decisions that affect their lives, including through the establishment of a representative council tasked with contributing to policymaking.
The Office notes that certain provisions could be strengthened to realise the law’s full potential. The Act does not explicitly recognise Indigenous Peoples and the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is only partially reflected, despite Thailand’s endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2007, which articulates the collective rights to an identity. Community rights to land also remain limited under restrictive forestry laws.
“Explicit recognition of Indigenous Peoples — distinct from ethnic groups or minorities — is essential to acknowledge their deep connection to lands and resources and the legal rights that come with them. Such recognition provides a vital basis to implement the Act in line with international human rights law, particularly the norms relating to the rights of Indigenous Peoples,” Veliko added.
ENDS
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