Rights groups are urging the Thai government to enact legislation banning torture and forced disappearances as its human rights record comes under United Nations review. But groups such as Human Rights Watch say Thailand needs domestic laws explicitly prohibiting torture and forced disappearances to effectively comply with the treaty. Last month, Thailand's legislature failed to pass a bill against torture and enforced disappearances, saying it needed more study. Since 1980, the UN has recorded 82 cases of enforced disappearances in Thailand. "The government needs to take swift and concrete action to enact a law that severely penalises torture and enforced disappearance,'' said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Source: Bangkok Post March 14, 2017 13:07 UTC