Asia
Thailand.
Section 374 of Thailand's Penal Code makes it an offense to see another person in danger of losing their life and fail to give necessary help that could be given without risk. A 2025 journal article reports that the Emergency Medical Act B.E. 2551 (2008) gives qualified immunity to those who assist in emergencies. The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security marks International Volunteer Day, and a UN release cites more than 18 million formal and informal volunteers as of September 30, 2025.
Is there a legal duty to help a stranger?
YesSection 374, in the unofficial ThaiLawOnline translation, applies to anyone who sees another in danger of losing their life, could help without risk to themselves or a third person, and fails to give necessary help; the penalty is up to one month in prison or a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both. The site's commentary says calling emergency services may satisfy it, and that the duty arises only where helping is safe.
Are people who help protected?
LimitedA 2025 journal article says the Emergency Medical Act B.E. 2551 (2008) grants immunity from criminal and civil liability for emergency care given in good faith without intent or gross negligence, and that it covers medical personnel and volunteers. The statute's own section text was not found, so scope and wording are unverified and the article centers on health workers.
How the government promotes giving and service
Ways to give and volunteer
Much giving in Thailand runs through temples, royal-patronage foundations and the Thai Red Cross Society, and most official sites are in Thai first. Start with the Thai Red Cross, which has English pages for blood, organ and eye donation.
Check a charity before you give
Thailand has no single public charity register that we could verify, so the closest official body is the Revenue Department, which runs the e-Donation system for tax-deductible gifts to approved recipients; ask any group whether it can receive donations that way.
Give your time
Give money, blood or a donation
In an emergency or a crisis
Before you act
- Thai law requires fundraising and foundations to follow registration and tax rules, so ask for a receipt and the foundation's registration details before giving. Be wary of street collectors, children asked to beg for a group, and orphanage visits, which can harm children and are often run for profit. Foreign visitors should check visa and work-permit rules before any volunteering, since unpaid work can still count as work.
This list does not cover local temples, small community groups or every Thai foundation. Checked 2026-10-28. Listing an organization is not an endorsement, and none of them has endorsed this site. Some official sites block automatic checks, so a link may need a second try.
One thing worth knowing
Thailand's rule treats calling for help as a way to meet the duty, per the ThaiLawOnline commentary, and the Penal Code offense is a minor one with a short one-year limit on prosecution.
What this does not mean
The Section 374 English is an unofficial law-firm translation, and krisdika.go.th (the official source) could not be reached. The Emergency Medical Act's text, the Civil and Commercial Code and any 'Volunteer Spirit' program were not verified from primary sources and are not asserted. Not legal advice. This is a plain-language summary of public sources, not legal advice, and it does not rank countries. No government named here has endorsed this site. Not reviewed by a lawyer. Statutes were read in public sources and may have changed. Last checked October 26, 2026.