The inquiries are categorised into 11 groups:

– Constitutional and legal framework within which the covenant is implemented.

– Non-discrimination and equality.

– Violence against women.

– States of emergency.

– Right to life and prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

– Right to liberty and security of person, treatment of persons deprived of their liberty, right to a fair trial and independence of the judiciary.

– Prohibition of slavery and forced labour.

– Rights to freedom of expression and association and to peaceful assembly.

– Treatment of aliens and protection of children.

– Statelessness.

– Rights of persons belonging to minorities.

There are also questions relating to concerns raised constantly by civil society organisations in Thailand.

The questions are as follows:

– Please indicate the steps taken to guarantee that states of emergency comply with the provisions of the covenant with regard to both the rationale and the scope of the corresponding derogations. Please also indicate if the derogation of article 4 (1) implemented on July 8, 2014 and lifted on April 1, 2015 is still being applied in some provinces of Thailand and which other articles have been subject to derogations.

– Please provide information on the interim Constitution promulgated by the National Council for Peace and Orders and on Orders No 3/2015, No 5/2015 and No 13/2016, and explain how they are compatible with the Covenant, notably its articles seven, nine and 10.

– Please clarify whether military courts can try civilians and, if so, how and under what circumstances. Please indicate measures taken to transfer all cases involving civilians from military to civilian courts.

– Please respond to the allegation that the government attempts to restrict the freedom of expression of human rights activists and that orders No 7/2014 and No 3/2015 and Article 116 of the Criminal Code have been used to detain individuals who have peacefully expressed their political opinions. Please comment on reports indicating that since May 2014 the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly has been severely restricted, including through the banning of public events related to human rights and democracy.