Students at Khon Kaen University Embark on Human Rights Initiative

Alyssa Boente, Emily Galey, and Anne Sheldon
Thailand
With human rights gaining attention throughout Thailand, 30 Khon Kaen University students have joined a new initiative to report on the status of human rights in ten Isaan communities. They will use the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) framework, derived from the United Nations’ International Covenant on ESCR.

“There is a gap in the distribution of knowledge on this campus, and there is a need to generate information on [human rights] issues,” said Patsara Patangwesa, a fourth year Community Development KKU student involved with the KKU Human Rights Report Project.

157 nations have signed and ratified the covenant to promote universal human rights such as those to food, clothing, housing, health, and education. Although Thailand ratified the covenant in 1999, ESCR violations continue in many Thai communities.

“ESCR became one of the key concerns of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand recently,” said Mr. Boontan Tansuthepveeravong, director of Amnesty International Thailand and an active member of Thailand’s ESCR-Network.

Mr. Boontan attended the Participatory Seminar for the ESCR Network in Ayutthaya on the weekend of September 14. Groups such as the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, Amnesty International, human rights NGOs, and communities from throughout Thailand whose ESCR have been violated gathered at the seminar to examine how ESCR apply to their issues and to build solidarity against ESCR violations.

The same weekend, students from the faculties of Thai Language, Community Development, Public Administration, and Law went to their first day of ESCR training at Khon Kaen University.

While their peers vacation during the October break, these select students will volunteer their time to exchange with local villagers in Isaan communities. They will conduct field studies to assess potential ESCR violations. “This project is important for all regions of Thailand. People throughout Thailand need to recognize and understand human rights,” said Rungrot Wanpen, a third year student from the Faculty of Thai Language.

In conjunction with the KKU faculties of Law and Humanities, the Council on International Educational Exchange, NGO-Cord, and the People’s Network of Isaan, the students will use their newly-acquired knowledge to draft human rights reports with communities. This collective effort to understand ESCR and create the reports will strongly encourage and support communities as they strive to attain fundamental rights.

Students will work with villagers affected by dams, mining, HIV/AIDS, and rural and urban issues. Connecting with local communities directly affected by these issues will allow students to help bring local issues to the national level.

“This is the next step forward in implementing and promoting human rights on the grassroots level,” said Adisak Kaewrakmuk, an advisor to the project from the Council on International Educational Exchange.

“It’s important that [villagers involved] understand the issue and that they take part in writing their own story…I do not look at the output but the process to enhance it to its entire capacity,” said Boontan, referring to the KKU initiative.

“Villagers don’t know their own powers. They can fight for their own rights, represent themselves,” said Patsara.

The students will present the completed human rights reports to all ten communities and the KKU community at the third Isaan Community Gathering at KKU on 10 December.

(Republished from the Isaan University Post)