Brief Description
A draft Act on the ‘Operation of Not-for-Profit Organisations’ proposed by The Office of the Council of State (OCS) and another draft Act on the ‘Promotion and Development of Civil Society Organisations’ proposed by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security are being considered. Both these acts have serious implications for civil society groups and non-government organizations (NGOs) and the way they operate in Thailand. To better understand their details and reflect on what is needed to create an enabling, rather than a disabling, environment for civil society, a panel discussion was held at SEA-Junction on 3 April 2021 with the following speakers:
- Sanhawan Srisod, Associate International Legal Advisor, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
- Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director, Human RightsWatch
- Emilie Palamy Pradichit, Founder & Director, Manushya Foundation
Photographer
Lattapol Jirapathomsakul and Rosalia Sciortino
Event poster
Rosalia Sciortino introducedthe topic
Sanhawan Srisod explained thedetails of draft Act related
to the operations of NGOs
She further elaborated howthe draft Act is designed to
control civil society organization
Phil Robertson pointed outthe implication for civil society
from the political perspective
The cases of neighboringcountries' law on
civil society were examined
Emilie Palamy Pradichitcriticized the public
hearing process of the draft Act
She believes that the draft Acttargets the civil society
supporting pro-democracy
Rosalia Sciortino opened the floorfor Q&A session
A participant raised a question
The restriction of foreign fundingwas further discussed
Phil pointed out that the media
A participant raised a question
Rosalia Sciortino added somecomments in addition to
speakers' answers
Closer look at Sanhawan Srisod
Closer look at Phil Robertson
Closer look at Emilie PalamyPradichit
A limited number of participantson-site