The Problems of Definition of Enforced Disappearance in Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act B.E. 2565

Abstract

Enforced disappearance, which is a brutal practice that violates a number of internationally recognized human rights, has long been a serious crime and a threat to humanity around the world. Originally, this crime often occurred in the form of secret detention, civil war and internal wars caused by armed conflict, respectively. The main causes that lead to this crime are the conflict of opinions, whether in terms of political ideology, protecting
or claiming various rights, especially human rights protection or for concealing evidence or offenses arising from unlawful acts by unidentified state agents. Target groups of this crime include politicians, community leaders, labor leaders, human rights defenders and so on.
The international community focuses on solving and eliminating such problems by creating several specific international instruments on Enforced disappearance. Thailand recognizes the Importance of this problem and has endeavored to respond to the provisions to have measures to prevent and protect persons from enforced disappearances within the country. By enacting the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act 2022, which came into force on February 22, 2023. The definition of enforced disappearance in the said law is based on international convention wording, which is too broad and there are at least six issues that may not be clearly defined enough and cover the context of the offence. After a comparative study of relevant international laws and other foreign laws, it was concluded that the definition of such action should be amended to be more comprehensive and clearer.