(BANGKOK, February 1, 2024)— On February 1, 2024, a Thai parliamentary subcommittee focused on refugees fleeing Myanmar invited Fortify Rights Human Associate Thanida Piyachot to join the subcommittee as an advisor. The Parliamentary Subcommittee to Study Approaches to Solving Problems Related to Refugees and those Fleeing Armed Conflict along the Thai-Myanmar Border is comprised of 33 member, including seven parliamentarians, eight government officials, eight academics, and ten civil society representatives, including Fortify Rights.
As an advisor, Fortify Rights will be in a position to offer suggestions to the subcommittee to improve government policies and practices towards Myanmar refugees, especially for those living in the nine camps along the Thailand-Myanmar border. The parliament established the committee on February 1, 2024 and will remain active, meeting weekly, until April 1, 2024.
Fortify Rights has long been monitoring policy developments in Thailand affecting refugees and documenting protection concerns affecting the rights of refugees in Thailand, including the arbitrary arrest and detention, refoulement, extortion, and other violations committed by Thai authorities against refugees.