BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s government moved forward with a draft law that aimed to ban discrimination across all areas of life and sent the proposal to the Cabinet for consideration.
Draft law targeted broad protection
The Justice Ministry prepared the bill as a landmark step to strengthen legal protection against discrimination. It was designed to cover everyday life and to address patterns of unfair treatment identified in recent studies. Homeless people were found to be the most affected group, facing harmful stereotypes and social exclusion.
Vulnerable groups in focus
Members of the LGBTQ+ community reportedly experienced frequent unfair treatment based on their sexual identity. People with disabilities and migrant workers were often seen not as equal citizens but primarily as labour, according to the findings cited. The proposed law was intended to respond to these entrenched prejudices.
Independent authority to handle cases
A central element of the draft was the creation of an independent agency to investigate discrimination cases and promote remedies.
“The law could help establish an independent body to appropriately address these problems and promote fairness for everyone.”
said Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, a ThaiHealth manager. Experts criticised existing laws for focusing too heavily on punishment instead of prevention and rehabilitation.
Cross-party political backing
During a public forum, the proposal received broad support from lawmakers across several parties. Kannavee Suebsang, a Fair Party member of parliament, called on future governments to keep driving the legislation forward. Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat of the People’s Party described discrimination as a violation of human rights and compared the draft to the existing gender equality law.
Calls for decentralised enforcement
One key concern was that a single authority based in Bangkok would not be sufficient to tackle discrimination nationwide. Tunyawaj proposed amending Justice Ministry regulations so that provincial authorities could also investigate local cases. Only by involving institutions across the kingdom, he argued, could the law effectively benefit people in all regions.
Constitutional basis and long legislative path
Justice Minister Police Lieutenant General Rutthapon Naowarat stressed that the draft was grounded in the Thai constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Before it could take effect, however, it still had to pass both the Cabinet and, later, Parliament. Activists hoped the law would mark a major step toward a more tolerant and just society, noting that the international community was closely watching the process.