GENEVA, Sept 10 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has reiterated Thailand’s adherence to the principles of human rights and freedom of the people with respect to the voice of the minority.
In her speech at the 24th meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council here yesterday, she said democracy was not only about an election victory by the majority but about exercising power while honouring the minority.
People in power must neither hold on to power nor indoctrinate others, she said.
She said her government has followed international standard on equality and giving opportunities to women, children and the disabled, and cooperated regionally to promote human rights given challenges in the region.
Thailand has experienced challenges in its fight for democracy in the last several decades and the path remains rocky, she said.
Ms Yingluck added that she had to personally protect democracy from non-democratic people, bearing in mind that democracy, human rights, justice system and rules of law were universal values that bind people and different nations together.
The Thai prime minister arrived in Switzerland on the first leg of her one-week European tour which also includes Italy, the Vatican City and Montenegro.
