Highlights

23 July 2025

People-Centred Justice: Universal Rights and Individual Needs

Tailoring Justice to Victims’ Needs

The first in-person module focused on victims’ rights and support systems. Nguyet Minh Nguyen, UNODC Viet Nam and Samantha Jeffries, Griffith University discussed the impacts of victimization and the importance of a victim-centred approach. They noted that it is essential to respect how individuals choose to identify—whether as ‘victims’ or ‘survivors’.

Victimization can have emotional, physical, and financial effects, some of which are not immediately visible. The speakers also highlighted secondary victimization—additional harm that can occur when victims encounter insensitive treatment within justice, healthcare, or media systems—often creating barriers to seeking help, reporting crime and participating in the legal process.They emphasized the need for justice systems that prioritise respect, safety, privacy, and ongoing support. The needs of the victims change over time. Special measures are necessary for vulnerable groups, such as children and survivors of gender-based violence, including private interview spaces and minimizing repeated questioning.

Trauma-Informed Care

Adopting trauma-informed, empathetic approaches helps empower victims and supports their recovery, contributing to a fairer and more effective justice process. Michael O’Connell, Consulting Victimologist, the NGO Alliance on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, led a workshop on trauma-informed care. Practical strategies include adapting language, letting victims lead their narratives, and minimizing distress during interviews and proceedings.

Participants actively engaged throughout the session, asking many questions that inspired constructive discussion. An exercise on reframing common victim-blaming statements into trauma-informed responses highlighted the importance of language in creating safe spaces and validating victims’ experiences. The speaker emphasized that trauma-informed care is a mindset shift, not just a checklist, and that even small changes can significantly support victims’ healing and trust in the justice system.

Protecting the Rights of Suspects and Accused Persons

On the following day, T4SEA turned its attention to the protection of suspects and accused persons in pre-trial proceedings.

Hiroshi Suda, UNODC ROSEAP  opened the session by exploring how international human rights law and UN standards and norms shape procedural protections in the early stages of criminal justice. He further provided a closer look at Japan’s approach—highlighting how rights are upheld from the initial police investigation through to prosecution and court proceedings. To ensure fair access to legal aid, suspects can request a duty attorney at any police station. In some cases, the court itself may appoint a defence lawyer. Legal aid is coordinated by Houterasu, Japan’s national legal support centre. The participants were highly engaged, asking insightful questions about how these protections operate in practice and sharing perspectives from their own professional and legal contexts.

Shifting to a regional example, Ryan David Lim shared insights into the role of the Public Defender’s Office (PDO) established in 2022. He emphasized the importance of making criminal defence services more accessible, inclusive, and transparent. Public defenders are full-time government officers providing support for those unable to afford legal representation. The PDO has significantly broadened legal coverage, complementing existing schemes such as the pro bono Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS) and the Supreme Court’s Legal Assistance Scheme for Capital Offences (LASCO). Participants actively contributed by discussing how similar models might be adapted in their countries and expressed interest in deeper exchanges on legal frameworks and implementation challenges.

Bringing in the perspective of civil society, Billy Gorter highlighted how This Life Cambodia has built a strong and trusted partnership with the Cambodian Government including through a formal MOU. By maintaining regular dialogue and engaging communities in local justice initiatives, the organization has helped advance child-sensitive justice and reduce the reliance on pre-trial detention—particularly for young people. Many participants were deeply moved by his message that criminal justice impacts not only individuals but also their families and communities, and how meaningful change can happen if all work together to promote a more humane and compassionate justice system.

Building Effective Communication through Investigative Interviewing

In a powerful workshop on Investigative Interviewing, Asbjørn Rachlew and Susanne Flølo, Norwegian Centre for Human Rights shared Norway’s transformative shift from confession-driven interrogations to a more humane, evidence-based model. Reflecting on a wrongful conviction in the 1990s, they described how police pressure, combined with the absence of systematic training, led to arbitrary practices and false confessions. That experience prompted him and the other police officials to pursue academic study, opening the door to scientific research that would reshape national practice. The result was a new approach grounded in communication, empathy, scientific reasoning, and respect for human rights—now embedded in Norway’s police training. Today, all interviews with suspects, victims, and witnesses in Norway are recorded, and the country has become a global example of how such values can guide police work.

The guest speakers reminded participants that false confessions remain a global issue with serious consequences, especially for vulnerable individuals. Investigative interviewing is not only more ethical but also more effective—yielding more accurate and reliable information. This model is now gaining traction across Southeast Asia, with countries including Indonesia and Thailand taking important steps to adapt and apply these principles. The discussions concluded with overwhelming enthusiasm for continued learning, practical application, and support for future capacity-building activities to be promoted in different countries.