The Draft Gender Equality Act (Version ..), B.E. ….
Keywords:
Gender equality, Unfair gender discrimination, Gender diversity, Protection of rights, Legal developmentAbstract
Equality Act B.E. 2558 (2015), and propose recommendations for improving the Draft Gender Equality Act (Version ..), B.E. .… in accordance with international human rights standards and the current Thai social context. The study employs a documentary research methodology, drawing upon legal provisions, academic documents, international reports, and comparative studies of foreign laws, e.g. the Equality Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of the United Nations.
The findings reveal that the Gender Equality Act B.E. 2558 (2015) represents an essential legislative effort to protect individuals from unfair gender-based discrimination. However, several shortcomings remain, including limited legal definitions of “discrimination” and “gender,” which fail to encompass gender identity and gender expression. Furthermore, the enforcement mechanism under the Committee on the Consideration of Unfair Gender Discrimination (CCUGD) lacks independence, transparency, and effectiveness in safeguarding rights. In practice, the Act has not adequately addressed indirect discrimination in educational institutions, workplaces, and public agencies.
Accordingly, this research proposes the revision of the Draft Gender Equality Act (Version ..), B.E. …. to broaden the scope of legal protection, explicitly recognize gender diversity, and empower the CCUGD as an independent and accountable body. It also recommends incorporating participatory mechanisms involving civil society and the public in monitoring and evaluation processes. These reforms would strengthen the Act as a legal instrument for promoting human rights, equality, and human dignity in Thai society.
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