Forum to discuss same-sex marriage

Among the audience will be Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Prajin Juntong, Rights and Liberties Protection Department (RLPD) director-general Pitikan Sithidej said. 
She said experts from Canada, the UK, Finland, South Africa, Chile and Australia will discuss the good examples of legal development for same-sex marriage and life partnership overseas. 
The forum will start at 9.30am at the Sukosol Hotel. 
“Thai experts such as former president of the National Human Rights Commission, Amara Pongsapichwill, share the stage,” Pitikan said. 
She added that human rights activists and gender-diversity experts from the United Nations, as well as president of the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand would also speak. 
The legislation of the Life Partnership Bill is considered a progressive step. If enforced, it will prepare the Thai public for the possibility of same-sex marriage in the future, she said. 
The bill was drafted in response to calls from gender-diversity groups. 
The Justice Ministry started working on the draft in 2013. 
The bill is in line with the national human-rights plan for sexual identity, which will be implemented in 2018. 
“We should submit the bill to the National Legislative Assembly by November if we expect the bill to be introduced as a law during the term of the current government,” Petikarn said. 
A general election is expected to take place early next year.