The Thai parliament has voted to pass the Ethnic Way of Life Protection bill, the first law in Thailand to protect Indigenous peoples’ cultural rights and way of life. Meanwhile, the opposition and civil society said work remains to be done to ensure protection for Thailand’s Indigenous peoples.

In February 2024, the House of Representatives passed in their first readings five bills on Indigenous rights, two of which were proposed by civil society groups. The House formed a drafting committee to combine the bills, which was passed in its second and third readings on 5 February 2025.

This version of the bill faced criticism from civil society following several omissions and changes to core sections. The term “Indigenous” was omitted, while cultural protection areas will not be exempted from conservation regulations. Indigenous rights groups have said that continuing to enforce these laws in cultural protection areas would mean that no community would ever be able to establish a cultural protection area as they would be restricted by conservation laws.

The bill was passed to the Senate, which made several changes before approving it on 8 April. Among the changes were to the definition of “ethnic groups,” which was changed to refer to groups of “Thai people…born and settled in Thailand” with a common identity, culture, language, way of life, and tradition, “or with a cultural or historical continuity related to Thailand.” This change was approved despite arguments made by some senators, who said that the definition should include people who self-identify as Indigenous and that including the term “Indigenous” would be in line with international laws. Some also argued that defining ethnic groups as Thai peoples who were born in Thailand would exclude those who live in Thailand but whose parents are not Thai citizens, or who live along the borders.

Last Wednesday (6 August), the House of Representatives voted to approve changes made to the Ethnic Way of Life Protection bill by the Senate. The bill will now need royal assent before it comes into effect.

The main opposition People’s Party issued a statement saying that changes to the bill made by the House’s drafting committee and the Senate left out several core principles which would ensure protection for Indigenous peoples. The Senate had cut out a section in the bill prohibiting publication of materials which are discriminatory or hateful towards ethnic communities. It also amended sections concerning cultural protection areas so that it would not override other areas already in place.

People’s Party MP Laofang Bundidterdsakul said that the bill is unlikely to solve existing land rights issues for Indigenous communities. Although it is historic for Thailand to have its first law laying the groundwork for Indigenous rights, he said that more work needs to be done. The next steps will be to issue regulations and amend other laws in line with the new law. He also said that in the long run, if the party can form a government, it intends to push for a more inclusive Indigenous rights law that would ensure communities’ right to land.

The People’s Movement for a Just Society (P-Move) issued a statement welcoming the bill’s passing as an important step for acceptance of Indigenous groups in Thailand. However, it called on the government to work with civil society on related legislation and to ensure that its policies protect Indigenous rights.

The government must also work to reduce negative stereotypes of Indigenous peoples and eliminate discrimination in policymaking and in society.