On 11 May 2026, the physical gates of Klong Prem Central Prison opened for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. For many activists and critics of Thailand's justice system, however, his release highlighted what they see as a stark contrast between the treatment of political elites and that of pro-democracy campaigners facing lengthy prison sentences.

134 former and current parliamentarians from Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and Timor Leste signed an open letter calling on ASEAN and its member states to demand the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners detained by the Myanmar junta.

Detained Thai human rights lawyer Anon Nampa has been nominated for the 2026 Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) Human Rights Award, said Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).

A vigil was held yesterday (14 May) in front of the Ratchadapisek Criminal Court to mark the second anniversary of the death of activist Netiporn Sanesangkhom, who died in prison following a long hunger strike in 2024.

The Appeal Court has sentenced former activist Phromsorn Viradhammajari to 2 years and 10 months in prison on a royal defamation charge over the 14 January 2021 protest demanding the release of a student activist who had been arrested.

A 28-year-old from Mukdahan has been sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison on a royal defamation charge filed over a comment under a Facebook post featuring a picture of King Vajiralongkorn and his son Prince Dipangkorn.

Lawyers from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) on 30 January requested bail for 15 people detained pending trial or appeal so they can vote in the 8 February general election and constitutional reform referendum. All requests were denied.

2025 has been an eventful year in Thailand: a year of changes political watershed moments, from new laws coming into effect to a border war. Here we look back at the year through the lens of our photographers.

The new Thai government should reverse the trend of past administrations and take concrete action to uphold human rights, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on November 12, 2025. Anutin took office on September 7 following a parliamentary election and royal endorsement.

Detained human rights lawyer Anon Nampa has been awarded the 2025 Front Line Defenders Award for Human Right Defenders At Risk for his role in promoting and protecting human rights despite serious risk to his own personal safety.

On Saturday (25 October), activists and residents in Chiang Mai ran 3.5 kilometres through Chiang Mai University to demand release of political prisoners and protest parliament’s refusal to include royal defamation defendants in the amnesty bill for political offences.