A Refugee Freed in Thailand

(BANGKOK, March 2020) — Fortify Rights continues to provide refugees and their families with behind-the-scenes support, including practical advice on sensitive cases. On March 23, Thai immigration authorities granted bail for the release of Sri Lankan refugee “Thehan” after he spent 15 months in immigration detention. Despite suffering from a serious medical condition, Thai authorities provided limited medical treatment to Thehan in detention. Over several weeks, Fortify Rights and partners coordinated with Thai authorities and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to secure his release. Fortify Rights’ Thailand team had visited Thehan together with members of his family and regularly communicated updates to them. Thehan and his family have applied for resettlement to Switzerland. Fortify Rights continues to monitor their situation.