Thailand: UN experts warn against heritage status for Kaeng Krachan national park
July 23, 2021
GENEVA (23 July 2021) – UN human rights* experts urged the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to defer Thailand’s bid to get a prized heritage listing for the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, saying the indigenous Karen are being subjected to rights violations in the park.
The World Heritage Committee will review the nomination on 26 July. The Committee has previously twice rejected Thailand’s push to get heritage status for the park in 2016 and 2019.
“This is an important precedent-setting case, and may influence policies on how indigenous peoples’ rights are respected in protected areas across Asia,” the experts said.