Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion Submission to the Human Rights Council at the 25th Session of the Universal Periodic Review Thailand 1. The Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (the Institute) is an independent non-profit organisation dedicated to end statelessness through encouraging the human rights of stateless persons and promoting inclusion. Its work combines research, education, partnership and advocacy to promote the inclusion of the stateless and the disenfranchised. 2. This submission draws on research, both in Thailand and internationally, by the Institute and partners. The submission addresses the human rights protection of stateless persons in Thailand, of which there are several groups. These include the hill tribe people who are found mainly in the North and West of the country; the Moken (also known as ‘Chao Lay’ or ‘Sea Gypsies’), along the Andaman coast; and Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. This submission focuses on Thailand’s treatment of the hill tribe and Rohingya populations. The Universal Periodic Review of Thailand under the First Cycle (2011) 3. Thailand was first subject to the Universal Periodic Review on 5 October 2011, at Session 12 of the First Cycle. At this review, multiple recommendations were made to Thailand in relation to strengthening the protection and improving the treatment of vulnerable groups, such as refugees, migrants, ethnic minorities and stateless persons. Following are some examples: 89.5. “Consider ratifying the conventions on refugees and on stateless persons and OP-CAT” - by Brazil, Accepted 89.15. “Accede to the United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol as well as to the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons” – by France, Noted1 88.23. “Strengthen the implementation of policies and measures to protect vulnerable social groups like women, children, poor people, ethnic minorities, migrants” – by Viet Nam, Accepted 89.70. “Ensure respect for the principle of non- refoulement with respect to asylum seekers and refugees, avoid a premature move to close camps on the Western border while conditions for voluntary, safe and dignified return do not exist, and meet the protection needs of vulnerable peoples, such as the Rohingya, in accordance with international law” – by Canada, Accepted 88.93. “Take measures with a view to preventing and combating of arbitrary arrest, violence, abuse and exploitation of migrants” – by Brazil, Accepted 1 Thailand ultimately refused this recommendation.