Thailand

GWS Thailand, the Community Women Human Rights Defenders Collective in Thailand, is comprised of grassroots women currently representing nineteen different sectors who are defending family, community and the environment.  These sectors include indigenous women, migrant and refugee women, disabled women,  urban women from the slums, rural women farmers and women from the conflict zone in the Deep South. Sex workers, garment workers, and those fighting against destruction of natural resources and the environment. They work to protect life, livelihoods and the natural world. The Collective demands a Care Income, and an end to poverty, inequality and State oppression in all forms.

In November 2023, Lisa and Sara from GWS UK were invited to Thailand by Bee (Pranom Somwong of Protection International) for a two-day gathering of the Community Women Human Rights Defenders Collective which campaigns for a care income. The event was followed by a national tour to meet women organisers in their communities. It was a fantastic learning experience which brought our international Global Women’s Strike network closer together. Read about our findings here.

Recent News from GWS Thailand

Statement: The Community Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) Collective in Thailand statement on International Women’s Day

By Global Women's Strike | 7th March 2021

We demand an end to State Violence and for a new government – the government we all deserve. The Community Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) Collective in Thailand statement on  International Women’s Day Over one hundred years ago when women in Russia, and in the US took to the streets, giving birth to International Women’s…

IWRAW Asia Pacific: ‘Wages For Caring Work’: An Exploration Of The Care Income Campaign

By Global Women's Strike | 3rd December 2020

In this interview, IWRAW Asia Pacific asks two activists based in Thailand about the concept of care income, its history in the women’s rights movement, and its role in building gender-just post-COVID-19 economies. Liz Hilton works with Empower Foundation, a sex-worker-led advocacy organisation in Chiang Mai, and Bee Pranom Somwong works at Protection Desk Thailand,…

Please act now to prevent another killing of land rights defenders in Thailand

By Global Women's Strike | 20th October 2020

Dear Friends, The mass movement in Thailand has been in the news, representing many grassroots sectors and struggles. Thank you for responding to their call to save the life of Mr. Lertsak Kumkongsak, an important contributor to the struggle for justice for decades​. He has continued to be active with the anti-mining movement despite death…

For US: Updated urgent action alert for climate justice activist under death threat in Thailand

By Global Women's Strike | 2nd October 2020

Save the life of Mr. LERTSAK KHAMKONGSAK, environmental and human rights activist! Defend the Kahao Yai Pha Dai Community Forest Conservation Group!(in Dong Mafai Sub District, Nongbua Lamphu Province, North East Thailand). Email now (see below) to show how much international support there is for their safety and livelihoods. Mr. Lertsak Khamkongsak continues to face…

Updated urgent action alert for climate justice activist under death threat in Thailand

By Global Women's Strike | 30th September 2020

Save the life of Mr. Lertsak Kumkongsak, environmental and human rights activist! Defend the Kahao Yai Pha Dai Community Forest Conservation Group!(in Dong Mafai Sub District, Nongbua Lamphu Province, North East Thailand). Email now (see below) to show how much international support there is for their safety and livelihoods. Mr. Lertsak Kumkongsak continues to face…

Urgent action alert for climate justice activist under death threat in Thailand

By Global Women's Strike | 23rd September 2020

SEE UPDATED ACTION ALERT HERE. Dear Friends, See below an urgent action alert from our colleagues in Thailand. Environmental and human rights activist Mr. Lertsak Khamkongsak, faces repeated death threats and we are very worried for his safety. Please call on the UN agencies to publicly demand action to protect the life of Mr. Lertsak…

Statement: Thailand – We Walk: freedom of assembly wins, and the courts affirm their rights!

By Global Women's Strike | 17th February 2018

Freedom of Assembly Wins, and the Courts affirmed their rights –’We Walk…Friendship/Solidarity’ The people of Thailand inspire us into action to struggle and further promote our rightsand freedoms…People themselves need to act – time for dependency on politicians and political parties must end…   The ‘We Walk…Friendship/Solidarity’ of the ordinary people of Thailand has concluded today(17/2/2018).…

Media statement – Thailand must respect and promote human rights, end harassment and suppression of rights of “We Walk…Solidarity/Friendship” participants and supporters.

By Global Women's Strike | 30th January 2018

Dear Editor, Please find enclosed a Joint Media Statement by 52organisations, trade unions and groups, and also two individuals, from many countries including UK, US, Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Myanmar and Bangladesh entitled, THAILAND MUST RESPECT AND PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS, AND END HARASSMENT AND SUPPRESSION OF RIGHTS OF “WE WALK…SOLIDARITY/FRIENDSHIP” PARTICIPANTS AND SUPPORTERS. Revoke summons…

Statement: Urgent, endorse statement supporting We Walk..Solidarity in Thailand

By Global Women's Strike | 27th January 2018

Dear Friends, We urgently ask your organisation/ group/ trade union to endorse this statement (below) supporting We Walk…Solidarity in Thailand and demanding that all charges against the peaceful walkers be immediately dropped. On 20/1/2018, 3 teams of 4 people, mostly women, began to separately walk from Bangkok to Khon Kaen, some 450 kilometres, a journey…

Action: URGENT support needed to DROP CHARGES against EIGHT HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS in Thailand

By Global Women's Strike | 23rd January 2018

Dear friends, URGENT support needed to DROP CHARGES against EIGHT HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS in Thailand Protection International in Thailand is appealing for our immediate action to support eight human rights defenders (HRD), two women and six men, who are being charged with breaching Article 12 which forbids “political gatherings of five or more persons”. The eight…

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