Highlights

23 July 2025

A Visit to The Criminal Court in Bangkok

On the final day, the T4SEA organized a study visit to the Criminal Court in Bangkok. Participants were warmly welcomed by the Thai judges who shared the Court’s vision for delivering fair, efficient, and rights-based justice. Judges described how specialized units, such as the Centre for the Protection of Rights and Liberties and the Psycho-Social Clinic, aim to support vulnerable individuals, reduce recidivism, and strengthen reintegration. Participants toured several key facilities, including technologically equipped courtrooms, witness protection spaces, and counseling areas.

Another highlight was the introduction to Thailand’s mediation and settlement mechanisms. At the Mediation Centre, participants learned how minor criminal cases can be brought directly by private individuals and resolved through facilitated sessions, often before formal court proceedings are initiated.

The visit created space for a lively and thoughtful Q&A session, giving participants the chance to exchange ideas and explore real-world practices within the court system. Questions focused on protections for vulnerable witnesses, the treatment of young offenders, how reintegration is supported after release, and how digital evidence is handled in hearings. Judges clarified that while e-hearing recordings are not available to the public, parties can securely access them for appeals. The discussion reflected a strong interest among participants in continued learning, particularly around practical and rights-based approaches to fair trial processes.