Thailand: Acquittal of two women rights defenders sued by poultry producer Thammakaset
"Thailand: UN Human Rights Office welcomes acquittal of human rights defenders", 08 Jun 2020
The UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia welcomed the acquittal... of two...defenders who had been charged with criminal defamation by Thai poultry producer Thammakaset. The Bangkok Criminal Court reached a verdict in the case against Nan Win, a former migrant worker..., and Sutharee Wannasiri, a Thai... defender who formerly worked with...Fortify Rights... Companies in Thailand have long been criticized for employing...“strategic lawsuits against public participation,”... to silence...civil society organizations and... defenders. “This judgement shows how individuals raising legitimate concerns about alleged business abuses can be protected from SLAPP cases in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles...,” said... the UN Human Rights Office in Bangkok. In December 2019, Thailand become the first Government in Asia to adopt a [NAP]. Protecting... defenders from SLAPP cases is one of the four key priorities... The defamation case against Nan Win and Sutharee Wannasiri is just one of many... lodged against... defenders and workers by Thammakaset and other business enterprises in Thailand. The majority of SLAPP cases filed in Thailand in 2019 were against women... defenders. “These cases have created an atmosphere of fear, self-censorship and have added to stress, undue financial burden, and concerns for personal safety. It is critical that the protective measures outlined under Thailand’s [NAP] are... implemented and the practice of SLAPP is eliminated,” [OHCHR] said...
Thai version of the article is available in the original source.