Unicef reminds Thailand of young people’s right to safety, freedom of expression
Concerned about the potential harm young people may be facing amid the ongoing protests in Thailand, Unicef is calling on all parties to uphold protesters’ right to freedom of expression and protect them from all forms of violence and intimidation.
The UN agency said young people’s rights to participation, peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, including peaceful protest, are enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world.
Thailand ratified the CRC in 1992 and committed itself to guaranteeing that young people's rights are fulfilled, including their right to participation, expressing their opinions in a peaceful manner and for their voices to be heard.
Unicef has also said that all schools and learning institutions should be safe havens for children, where they can constructively voice their opinions and their ideas be acknowledged. Schools and educational institutions should also provide a safe space for students to exchange ideas and engage in meaningful discussions, where they can build their communication and negotiation skills, and contribute to finding peaceful solutions to challenges they face.
Any child who comes in contact with the law must receive timely support and undergo appropriate juvenile proceedings, without the use of violence, intimidation or threats.