“The SCA acknowledges that the NHRCT has prepared a draft amendment to the Act, to provide it with the power to conciliate disputes. The NHRCT reported that this draft amendment has undergone a public consultation process and has been presented to the Government of Thailand for introduction to Parliament.

Where an NHRI has been provided with a mandate to receive and consider complaints alleging violations of human rights, an NHRI should ensure that complaints are dealt with fairly, transparently, efficiently, expeditiously, and with consistency. In order to do so, an NHRI should:

– ensure that its facilities, staff, and its practices and procedures, facilitate access by those who allege their rights have been violated and their representatives; and

– ensure that its complaint-handling procedures are contained in written guidelines and that these are publicly available.

In fulfilling its complaint-handling mandate, it should be provided with the necessary functions, resources, and powers to adequately fulfil this mandate. This may include the ability to seek an amicable and confidential settlement of the complaint through an alternative redress process.

The SCA encourages the NHRCT to continue to advocate for the expansion of its complaint-handling mandate to include the function to seek an amicable settlement to disputes through conciliation.”