UNESCO-partners hosted freedom of expression discussion with Thai political parties ahead of 14 May momentous national vote

To commemorate the 30th Anniversary of World Press Freedom Day 2023 (3 May), and to raise awareness on freedom of expression policies in Thailand in the lead-up to the Thailand general election (14 May), UNESCO Bangkok, the Thai Journalists Association, and Cofact Thailand hosted five major political party representatives in a public discussion on the theme, ‘The right to freedom of the press from the point of view of Thai political parties.’

The selected five political parties were represented by Rangsiman Rome, Move Forward Party; Khattiyah Sawasdipol, Pheu Thai Party; Watanya Bunnag, Democratic Party; Thidarat Yingcharoen, Thai Sang Thai Party; and Airada Bamrungrak, United Thai Nation Party.

Following a keynote speech delivered by Joe Hironaka, Chief of UNESCO Bangkok’s Communication and Information Unit, topics for debate included public access to information, media self-regulation, ethics, and defamation laws. The event was moderated by Wasinee Pabuprapap, a digital journalist and news anchor at the Thai online media platform workpointTODAY.

A joint statement of the Thai Journalists Association, the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, and the News Broadcasting Council of Thailand was recited aloud for the benefit of attendees to mark 2023 World Press Freedom Day.

Following the panel discussion, the UNESCO Bangkok Office delivered a welcoming speech in a ceremony for laureates of a TJA photojournalist competition on the theme of #liberty of the press and freedom of the people.

#FreedomOfExpression