“The criminal justice system does not operate in a vacuum but in the context of a larger environment. When the justice system of a country is predicated on equality before the law, it is more likely that same philosophy will be incorporated in the development and implementation of the economic policies. When such is the case, the policies will seek to include as many beneficiaries as possible. And to meet the needs of today does not mean that we cannot aspire for a better tomorrow.
“It is no secret that Thailand is facing our own challenges when it comes to the rule of law and sustainable development. The future of our nation will be decided based on how well we address these challenges. But within every obstacle exists opportunities. And the Thai government is addressing both in a variety of ways. The Ministry of Justice of Thailand, in particular, has the critical task of ensuring that the justice system operates in an efficient, impartial, and comprehensive manner.”
He noted that several law reform initiatives are under way, one of which is pilot program to introduce electronic monitoring for probationers. Several years ago, Thailand adopted a policy which treats drug addicts as patients, not criminals, and establishes rehabilitation programs to treat and prepare those drug addicts to back into society and make a contribution.
Under the leadership of HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the Thai government has established the Thailand Institute of Justice, or TIJ, with the express purpose to make contributions to improve the criminal justice system, both domestic and ASEAN, through research on key areas including the rule of law, crime and development, and gender justice.
“A country's response to addressing the rule of law challenges should be balanced. On one hand, it is imperative that the public sector, particularly those criminal justice agencies, must continue to strive to ensure the sanctity of the rule of law. On the other hand, assuming that this challenge is strictly a question that concerns only the government, may not do justice to the magnitude of the problem. The prevention of crimes requires action from all.”