Thailand

Human Rights City in Songkhla: empowering youth at the local level

Human Rights city is a concept in which human rights principles are integrated at the level of local governments and community. A city is urged to protect human rights of its citizens through its policies and practices. Over the past two years, FNF Thailand has worked to introduce Human Rights City concept in cities in Thailand such as Khon Kaen , Ubonratchathani , and Bangkok  to strengthen human rights at the local level.

This year, FNF Thailand expands its effort to Songkhla, one of the biggest cities in Southern Thailand.  In cooperation with National Human Rights Commissioners, FNF Thailand organizes a four-day youth camp under Human Rights city initiative from 25-28 September with over 40 participants from various backgrounds. The camp aims at providing platforms for youth from local communities to learn about human rights concept and issues present in their area, working closely with specialists and local human rights defenders.
 

Learning from experts

The workshop kicks off with a lecture on human rights principles using multimedia and interactive methods. Participants analyze real-life scenarios and explore how human rights principles could be applied to the situations.  Online tool on ICCPR , developed by FNF, is also used to educate participants on International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. “I study human rights at school, and it’s hard and a lot. But this workshop helps me understand human rights in real life in a short time.” One participant reflected.  

Throughout the four days, participants are divided into three main groups and tasked with proposing solutions to human rights issues in the province. They conduct fieldwork, talk to the people in the community members and brainstorm for solutions using human rights principles, all under guidance from human rights experts. 

The fieldwork sites are selected based on ongoing human rights challenges:
1.    Khao Khuha community, where stone mining affects local people’s health and daily life.
2.    Ban Pla Number 9 Marine Preservation Centre, founded by the local fishing community to protect marine biodiversity for future generations.
3.    A mini-rehabilitation centre offering free support services for drug users seeking to quit.
“We get to talk to people who work in the field, who fight for their rights. We understand them better and understand that nobody should be treated unfairly.” One participant says. 
 

Youth initiatives

After the fieldwork, participants present their findings and proposed solutions to the human rights challenges observed in each community. Workshops on storytelling, through writing and video, help them communicate their ideas effectively. Participants present their findings and solutions to representatives from human rights field and people from the communities themselves. The goal is for experts and local communities to adopt the youth-driven initiatives to improve conditions on the ground.

See participants’ presentations here

“We hope that the participants here will become the people who can bring about change.” Ms. Pitikan Sithidej, Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand said. “We hope that they can apply what they learn here to help people and local communities.”

FNF Thailand hopes this initiative continues beyond this project, so that human rights are strengthened across Thailand. “We hope that the need to talk about human rights at a local level can spread. It should not only be the responsibility of FNF but everyone here and the local governments to pick up as well” explains Vanessa Steinmetz, FNF Thailand and Vietnam director.
 

* Takdanai Ketkaew is Programme Assistant and Communication Officer at FNF Thailand