Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee: Thailand (CCPR/CO/84/THA)

14. The Committee notes with concern that the death penalty is not restricted to the “most serious crimes” within the meaning of article 6, paragraph 2, and is applicable to drug trafficking. The Committee regrets that, despite the amendment in 2003 of the Penal Code, which prohibits imposition of the death penalty on persons below 18 years of age, the State party has not yet withdrawn its declaration to the Covenant on article 6, paragraph 5 (art. 6).

The State party should review the imposition of the death penalty for offences related to drug trafficking in order to reduce the categories of crime punishable by death. The State party should also consider the withdrawal of its declaration on article 6, paragraph 5, of the Covenant.

  • Death penalty
  • Human rights

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The Human Rights Committee oversees implementation of the ICCPR.

It has consistently found that drug offences do not meet the test of ‘most serious crimes’ for the purposes of article 6.2 of the Covenant. This is shown by Concluding Observations spanning 20 years.

Those included in the e-Book of Authorities are not exhaustive.

  • Death penalty
  • Human rights