Highlights

25 July 2025

T4SEA 2025: Empowering Practitionersfor People-Centred Justice in Southeast Asia

Hosted by the TIJ Academy and UNODC, the 2025 training brought together 41 criminal justice professionals from 12 countries for a week of expert insights, special workshops, and regional peer exchange in Bangkok. Event Highlights by: Thanaporn Techaritpitak and An-an Tangprasertphong, TIJ Academy

Content Overview

What happened at the T4SEA 2025

Hybrid Format, Regional Reach

In May 2025, the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ) by the TIJ Academy and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) hosted the second Training for Criminal Justice Practitioners in Southeast Asia (T4SEA), a hybrid training programme combining two evenings of online learning with five intensive in-person days in Bangkok.

This year, 37 Southeast Asian participants and 4 observers from South Asia, including police officers, prosecutors, public defenders, judges, and other justice professionals gathered to explore UN standards and norms alongside practical, people-centred approaches to criminal justice in the region.

Putting Humanity at the Centre of Justice

At the opening session, Phiset Sa-ardyen, Executive Director of TIJ, captured the essence of people-centred justice:

‘This is what people-centred justice means to us: seeing humanity in every interaction, and placing rights, needs, and fairness at the heart of what we do.’

Under the theme “Strengthening Criminal Justice Through People-Centred Approaches”, participants engaged in discussions on emerging criminal challenges, national efforts to promote justice and humanity, and local initiatives improving access to justice for victims, suspects and the accused. Special attention was given to Workshops on Trauma-Informed Care and Investigative Interviewing, equipping participants with tools to promote fairness, empathy, and effectiveness in criminal investigations.

Learning through Collaboration

With international expert speakers and regional practitioners, the training provided a vibrant platform for peer learning, with participants actively contributing through Q&As, group breakout activities, and collaborative presentations.

From Courtroom to Creativity

On the last day of the week, a site visit to The Criminal Court in Bangkok sparked lively exchanges with Thai judges, offering valuable insights into judicial practice. The final day also featured a creative LEGO serious play workshop, where participants built models to reflect on their values, challenges, and aspirations, encouraging personal reflection and shared commitment to advancing justice.

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Setting the Stage: Global Norms, Regional Outlook

Online pre-training sessions introduced participants to relevant international and regional frameworks, laying the groundwork for deeper, in-person discussions.

Framing the Discussion through a Global Lens

The evening of 8 May began with an online introduction to the United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice. Speakers Bryan Ramos and Edwin Cantu, UNODC Vienna emphasized that these instruments serve as guiding benchmarks that reflect international best practices and are complementary to international human rights law such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention against Torture (CAT).

The standards cover a wide range of justice issues, including access to legal aid, special protections for women and children, safeguards for victims and witnesses, fair legal rights of the accused, and the professional integrity of justice institutions. Most importantly, they reflect the international community’s commitment to justice that is fair, effective, humane, and accountable.

A few examples that could be highlighted from the session included:

• Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (1990)
• United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems (2012)
• Bangkok Rules (United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders, 2010)
• Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power (1985)
• Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct (2002)

Regional Spotlight: Legal Responses to Crime Trends in Southeast Asia

On 13 May, T4SEA took a regional lens to examine emerging crime trends and the legal cooperation frameworks among Southeast Asian countries.

The session began with an insightful presentation by Sylwia Gawronska, UNODC ROSEAP who outlined how trafficking in persons is evolving in the region. Criminal operations, she explained, have become more organized and business-like, often operating across borders with increasing sophistication.In recent years, new forms of trafficking have emerged—particularly involving forced labour and forced criminality, including recruitment for cybercrime, online scams, and money laundering schemes. These illegal activities are often concentrated in Special Economic Zones and border areas where regulatory oversight is weak. The trafficked victims in many cases are subjected to deception, coercion, or violence and often held in conditions where they are unable to move freely or seek help.

The complexity of these operations prompted thoughtful questions and reflections from participants. Many pointed to the need for proactive government strategies and cross-border cooperation to more effectively identify and protect the victims.

Sendy Hermawati, the ASEAN Secretariat updated participants on regional initiatives endorsed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to combat transnational crime and strengthen legal cooperation. She highlighted the 2019 ASEAN Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (ASEAN-MLAT), which enables Member States to request and provide assistance in obtaining evidence during criminal investigations. To streamline the process, the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) Working Group, with support from UNODC, is developing model templates, forms, and explanatory notes to help unify and simplify procedures across the region.

The MLA Working Group, along with informal mechanisms such as SEAJust, also plays an active role in addressing trafficking in persons cases through cross-border coordination and dialogue.

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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.

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Promoting Governance and Integrity: Accessible and Accountable Criminal Justice

Advancing Integrity in Criminal Justice System

In the final module, Tomas Kvedaras, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub, took participants through the key issues of corruption, transparency, and accountability. He outlined how effective approaches combine compliance—adhering to rules and integrity—cultivating an ethical culture. Over the years, efforts have shifted from focusing on ethics to criminalizing misconduct in the 1970s and 80s, and later towards strengthening governance and reforming criminal justice systems. Tomas also highlighted how UNDP has supported countries by developing policies, enhancing the integrity of courts and law enforcement, and establishing platforms like the Judicial Integrity Network, which enables judges to share experiences and promote people-centred reforms. He further illustrated these ideas by describing a high-profile corruption case in Lithuania, helping ground the discussion in a real-world example that resonated strongly with the audience.

Malaysia’s e-Court Transformation

Harmi Thamri Bin Mohamad, Office of the Registrar, Malaysia’s Federal Court, described how the country has progressively implemented its e-Court system since 2011 to improve efficiency, reduce backlogs, and broaden access to justice. The system, as of 2025, is now in its third phase of transformation and combinese-filing, digital case management, virtual hearings, queue management, and court recording with voice-to-text technology. All case filings and appeals are now fully electronic, with judges instantly alerted to new submissions. Whilst criminal cases still require the accused to appear in person, witnesses may testify remotely with the consent of all parties. Plans are underway to eventually enable accused persons to give evidence from prison, subject to legal review.

During the Q&A, many participants expressed admiration for Malaysia’s achievements and raised detailed questions about vendor dependency, cybersecurity, funding, and the admissibility of electronic documents.

Fostering Trust through Transparent and Technological Solutions

Following a group discussion on trust-building among participants, Ekapong Rimcharone, Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society explained how integrated data, artificial intelligence, and digital tools now strengthen the detection, investigation, and suppression of online crimes. He highlighted how real-time case tracking, evidence verification, and end-to-end transparency—from public reporting to fund recovery—help improve trust and responsiveness. The Central Fraud Registry underpins coordinated action through the Collaborative Anti-Mule Account Mechanism, bringing together the Royal Thai Police, Department of Special Investigation, AMLO, the Bank of Thailand, telecom operators, and banks to detect, freeze, and trace fraudulent accounts across the financial system. Several participants congratulated Thailand on its efforts and posed questions about operational challenges and lessons learned.

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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.

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Looking Ahead: Advancing Criminal Justice in Southeast Asia

As T4SEA 2025 came to a close, participants and facilitators reflected on the value of ongoing collaboration and engagement. Plans are already underway to keep the momentum going through an alumni network, accessible online resources, and follow-up activities in 2026.

On behalf of the Thailand Institute of Justice, the TIJ Academy warmly thanked our partner, UNODC, and sponsor, UNDP, as well as all participants and contributors for their shared commitment to advancing people-centred justice across the region.

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