Ethnic Protection Act
The Act on the Protection and Promotion of Ethnic Ways of Life, commonly known as the Ethnic Protection Act, is a Thai law to recognize and enshrine the rights of ethnic communities in Thailand.
Background
As of May 2025, Thailand has an indigenous population of 6 million. These include over 60 ethnic groups, including Moken, Mlabri, Karen, and Mani. Indigenous peoples in Thailand face discrimination and eviction from ancestral lands as a result of modern conservation laws, and include a large number of stateless individuals.Legislative history
The House of Representatives has approved the bill that the special committee has completed its consideration.The bill does not include the term "indigenous peoples", which serves as a point of contention for lawmakers.
The Senate has voted to accept the principle and set up a 27-member special committee. The meeting then resolved to approve the bill amendments before sending it to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Later, in the House of Representatives meeting, the meeting resolved to approve the Senate's amendments before submitting it for royal endorsement to be enacted into law.
On September 18, 2025, the Royal Gazette published the Ethnic Groups Protection and Promotion of Lifestyle Act B.E. 2025, which came into effect the following day, September 19, 2025.