Ethnic Protection Bill
| Ethnic Protection Act (draft) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parliament of Thailand | |
| |
| Territorial extent | Thailand |
| Considered by | |
| Legislative history | |
| Second reading | 5 February 2025 |
| Third reading | 5 February 2025 |
| First reading | 17 February 2025 |
| Second reading | 8 April 2025 |
| Third reading | 8 April 2025 |
| Status: Pending | |
The Bill on the Protection and Promotion of Ethnic Ways of Life (Thai: ร่างพระราชบัญญัติคุ้มครองและส่งเสริมวิถีชีวิตกลุ่มชาติพันธุ์), commonly known as the Ethnic Protection Bill, is a proposed Thai law to recognize and enshrine the rights of ethnic communities in Thailand.[1][2][3][4]
Background
As of May 2025, Thailand has an indigenous population of 6 million.[5] These include over 60 ethnic groups, including Moken, Mlabri, Karen, and Mani.[3] Indigenous peoples in Thailand face discrimination and eviction from ancestral lands as a result of modern conservation laws, and include a large number of stateless individuals.[5][1]
Legislative history
On 5 February 2025, the House of Representatives passed the third reading of the bill 312 to 84, with 2 abstentions and 4 absences.[2]
The bill does not include the term "indigenous peoples", which serves as a point of contention for lawmakers.[6][7][8][9]
On 17 February 2025, the Senate voted 160–1 to pass the bill in principle, with three abstentions, establishing a 27-member special committee.[10]
On 8 April 2025, at the 28th Senate meeting (second regular session), the meeting passed the amendment of the Ethnic Protection Bill by a vote of 124–1, with 8 abstentions and 2 abstentions, before sending it to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
On 6 August 2025, in the 9th meeting of the House of Representatives (the first regular session of the year), the meeting passed the bill amended by the Senate by a vote of 421–0 with 3 abstentions before forwarding it to the Cabinet to be submitted for royal endorsement to be enacted into law.[11][12][13]
References
- ^ a b "A licence for eviction? Thailand's ethnic protection bill sparks fierce opposition". world.thaipbs.or.th. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ a b "Parliament passes Ethnic Way of Life bill despite opposition from civil society | Prachatai English". prachataienglish.com. 2025-02-14. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ a b Editorial (2024-09-29). "Legal protection for ethnic groups". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ bussarin (2025-02-04). "ส่องรายละเอียด หมวด 5 มาตรา 27 พื้นที่คุ้มครองวิถีชีวิตกลุ่มชาติพันธุ์ สาเหตุที่ประเทศไทยยังคงต้องรอกฎหมายชาติพันธุ์ต่อไป". iLaw (in Thai). Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ a b Wachpanich, Nicha (2025-05-17). "Will Thailand finally recognise its six million indigenous citizens?". HaRDstories. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ Wachpanich, Nicha (2024-09-27). "A battle over words derails ethnic recognition in Thailand". HaRDstories. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ "Bridge-Building for Ethnic Concerns and Indigenous Identity". nationthailand. 2025-05-19. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ "Parliament removes "indigenous" from Ethnic Way of Life bill | Prachatai English". prachataienglish.com. 2025-01-22. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ Muntarbhorn, Vitit (2025-05-08). "Bridge-building for ethnic concerns". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ "สว. รับหลักการ 'กม.ชาติพันธุ์' ตั้ง กมธ.ถกร่างฯ ใน 30 วัน" [The Senate accepts the principle of the 'Ethnicity Act', establishing a committee to discuss the draft within 30 days]. theactive. 17 February 2025. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ "สภาฯ เห็นชอบร่างกฎหมายคุ้มครองกลุ่มชาติพันธุ์ ปลดล็อกข้อจำกัดสิทธิที่อยู่ทำกิน" [The House of Representatives approves the draft law to protect ethnic groups, lifting restrictions on their right to live and farm]. Thai Post. 6 August 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
- ^ "Final Hurdle cleared for Thailand's first law to protect ethnic groups' way of life". nationthailand. 2025-08-06. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ Wachpanich, Nicha (2025-08-06). "Thailand passes its first law to protect ethnic groups". HaRDstories. Retrieved 2025-08-07.