<p>Well that was a right farce last Wednesday in Geneva, eh?&nbsp; Talk about a dialogue of the deaf.</p> <p>I am of course referring to Thailand’s starring role in the latest episode in the UPR saga of the UNHRC.&nbsp;</p> <p>And for those who don’t follow the arcane acronyms of international human rights (so how the hell did you get to this website?), let me explain that it was Thailand’s turn to sit in the naughty chair and face a barrage of questions and recommendations about how to improve its human rights record.</p>

<div>Giggles were heard Wednesday, 11 May 2016, at a panel discussion and viewing of Phase Two of Thailand’s Universal Periodic Review by the United Nations at Black Box Café and Bar Ploenchit, during the opening remarks by a Thai Government representative. The tone of the day had been set.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a mechanism of the United Nations to assure transparent practice of human rights, which operates in a five year cycle. </div>

<div> <div>Amid international concerns on the abuse of Thailand’s lèse majesté law, the Thai Justice Minister said other countries did not understand that the law is necessary for Thailand since they did not have civilization, sensitivity, and gentleness.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Gen Paiboon Koomchaya, the Minister of Justice, said in having the King, Thailand was unique and civilized. </div></div>

<p>UN member states must use the next Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Thailand to demand key human rights commitments from the government, FIDH, its member organization Union for Civil Liberty (UCL), and its partner organization Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) said today.</p> <p>FIDH, UCL, and iLaw made the call with the release of two joint submissions for Thailand’s second UPR, which is scheduled to be held in April 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland.</p>

<p>August 30 marks the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. Thailand has not been immune to enforced disappearances. Over the past two years, two United Nations (UN) bodies, the Committee Against Torture and the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, have expressed concern over the numerous cases of enforced disappearances in Thailand.</p>