Bangkok: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a statement concerning the alleged violation of human dignity involving a female Member of Parliament. The NHRC emphasized that such violations signify narrow-mindedness and a lack of maturity, urging a relevant higher education institution to investigate the ethics of its personnel. It stressed that public figures should act as good role models.
According to Thai News Agency, the NHRC's statement, titled "Violations of Human Dignity and Sexual Harassment are Unacceptable and Reflect a Lack of Immaturity," highlighted two cases. These involved derogatory remarks by a university professor about the origins and family background of a female parliamentary candidate from the People's Party, and vulgar comments by a famous singer and actor about a female parliamentary candidate from the Thai Sang Thai Party on social media.
The NHRC stated that actions demeaning women's dignity and violating others' dignity are unacceptable. It noted that while freedom of thought and expression are fundamental rights, such expressions should respect others' rights and avoid derogatory, vulgar, or insulting language that damages the honor or reputation of individuals.
In democratic societies, diverse opinions are normal and must be respected. However, exercising rights and freedoms that infringe on others' rights, lack responsibility, and undermine human dignity reflects narrow-mindedness and immaturity. This can lead to a society driven by emotion rather than reason, hindering democratic development.
The NHRC has called on higher education institutions to investigate their personnel's behavior and ethics and urged the police to expedite legal processes in sexual harassment cases. It also encouraged public figures to set positive examples by respecting others' dignity and expressing opinions constructively.
The NHRC appealed to society to collaborate in creating a safe environment for diverse opinions, facilitating the country's development into a new era where human rights principles are respected by all parties