Thanida Piyachot

DTP alumna Thanida Piyachot is currently working as a Human Rights Associate at the Fortify Rights, an international human rights NGO. Thanida is also a Barrister and serves as Secretary of Thailand’s Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Border Affairs, National Strategy, and National Reform in Thailand.

Thanida represents Thai civil society on the Parliamentary Committee, where she provides essential documentation and critical analysis related to human rights abuses impacting refugees from Myanmar. This role directly complements her responsibilities at Fortify Rights, where she systematically investigates human rights violations faced by refugees fleeing Myanmar after the Coup.

The brutal repression of the Myanmar junta military and the imposition of conscription have forced hundreds of thousands to cross the border into Thailand, where they are highly vulnerable to extortion, exploitation, torture, and forced returns. Thanida’s documentation highlights the severe risks these communities face.

In her advocacy efforts, Thanida engages closely with parliamentarians, government officials, and diplomats, emphasising Thailand’s obligation to adhere to international legal standards concerning refugee rights.

Reflecting on her experience with the Diplomacy Training Program (DTP) in Timor-Leste in 2023, Thanida said:

“I really enjoyed the DTP training because it brought together diverse human rights defenders working in different areas like migration, refugees, and the environment. The training broadened my knowledge significantly, particularly in international law, and provided practical skills like through mock UPR sessions. It helped me clearly understand how international mechanisms work, which has been invaluable in my current role.”

Thanida emphasises the value of DTP’s diverse participant profiles:

“The balance of ages, gender, and religions created an ideal environment for learning and networking. Meeting experienced human rights defenders and passionate young advocates made the training especially impactful for me.”

Thanida’s advocacy underpins her strong belief in the power of law as a tool for social justice and her commitment to supporting vulnerable populations through rigorous legal advocacy and policy engagement. Thanida holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Thammasat University and has completed advanced certifications in International Migration and Refugee Law.

Reflecting on her decision to work in the human rights field instead of pursuing a more traditional legal career, Thanida shared that initially, her choice was met with some surprise from her family. Her parents were initially shocked to learn she would join a local NGO, especially given the lower salaries typically associated with such roles in Thailand. Thanida remembered clearly how challenging the financial aspect was at first.

However, over time, as her experience and expertise in human rights advocacy grew, her career progressed, leading to more opportunities, including her current role with Fortify Rights—an international organisation – and with the influential parliamentary committee. This progression allowed her to demonstrate to her family that she could support herself financially while also contributing meaningfully to society. For Thanida, the decision to focus on human rights advocacy was about redefining success—not in terms of monetary gain, but by the impact and positive changes she could bring about to empower people.