Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review of Thailand

15 April 2026: Ahead of Thailand’s fourth Universal Periodic Review, PEN International warns of a deteriorating climate for freedom of expression, marked by the continued use of restrictive laws and an emerging pattern of transnational repression targeting writers, journalists, and human rights defenders.

Despite accepting recommendations during its previous UPR to strengthen protections for freedom of expression, Thailand has failed to translate these commitments into meaningful reform. Criminal defamation laws remain in force and are widely used to initiate proceedings against individuals reporting on matters of public interest. At the same time, prosecutions under Article 112 of the Criminal Code (lèse-majesté) have intensified significantly, with individuals facing severe penalties for peaceful expression. In parallel, Thailand has increasingly been implicated in acts of transnational repression. Taken together, these trends reflect a sustained pattern of restrictions that undermine public debate and democratic accountability.