TLHR and Freedom Bridge Submitted a Report on the Right to Health of Thai Political Prisoners to UN Expert Ahead of Her Country Visit to Thailand

On 20 January 2025, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights and Freedom Bridge submitted an input to the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health in preparation for her upcoming country visit to Thailand from 18 to 28 February 2025.

The Special Rapporteur’s country visit will focus on issues faced by groups in vulnerable and marginalized situations, and will pay special attention on applying a gender perspective. The right to health is an “inclusive right”, meaning that it extends beyond health care to underlying determinants of health as well. These include adequate nutritious food and potable water, housing and sanitation, and access to information on health-related education.

The input focuses on the impact of detention on the health of political prisoners. Once imprisoned, detainees suffer conditions that violate their right to health and lead to debilitating illnesses. Not only do detainees consistently fail to receive timely and appropriate health care when required, but the physical conditions of Thailand’s prisons create and exacerbate health issues for those detained. Additionally, women, girls, and LGBTQ+ persons face added challenges stemming from their identities that result in disparate treatment.

TLHR and Freedom Bridge recommend, inter alia, that the Thai government establish centralized standards for prison operations, guarantee that prisoners have access to adequate and nutritious food and water, expand access to timely health care, and disclose the quantities and qualifications of medical professions present in prisons. Doing so would secure the right to health for those in detention, and potentially save numerous lives.

The report is outlined as follows:

Introduction
Detainees do not receive timely and appropriate health care
1. Physical Health
  1. Delays in care from proper doctors and nurses
  2. Delays in medication
  3. Lack of dental care
  4. Case report: “Bung” Natiporn
2. Mental Health
Detainees report mistreatment by prison guards and prison hospital doctors
Prison conditions result in major issues with the underlying determinants of health
1. Nutrition and Potable Water
2. Hygiene and Sanitation
3. Access to Health-Related Information
Women, girls, and LGBTQ+ detainees are especially vulnerable to poor health conditions and mistreatment related to their healthcare
1. Health challenges unique to women, girls and LGBTQ+ persons
2. Inconsistent prison regulations between prisons result in discriminatory health conditions
Recommendations

The report ends with recommendations from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights and Freedom Bridge. In order to further the Special Rapporteur’s goal to further the “full enjoyment of the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health” of all people, TLHR and Freedom Bridge recommend the Special Rapporteur to:

Urge the Thai government to establish centralized standards for prison operations to ensure that all facilities operate under uniform conditions. Standards should prioritize the safeguarding of human rights and access to health services.
Urge all branches of the Thai government to guarantee that all prisoners have access to adequate and nutritious food and medical care
Call on the Thai government to expand access to timely healthcare and medical professionals for detainees, including licensed psychologists, doctors, nurses, and social workers.
Urge the Thai government to mandate prisons to transparently declare their capacities by disclosing the quantity and qualifications of medical professionals present in prisons.

People in detention remain a vulnerable population in dire need of assistance. The grim state of prison conditions in conjunction with inaccessible health care has led to physical and mental health problems for some detainees, and has even resulted in the death of others.

The report can be found here

250120_TLHR Input to SR on Right to Health (3)ดาวน์โหลด