Gender equality and ending violence against children are recognized as a way to achieve the sustainable development of a society. This has been reflected in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, particularly in its goal 5 and goal 16. TIJ joins hands with domestic and international stakeholders to achieve those goals through research projects, capacity building and awareness raising activities.
TIJ promotes protection of human rights with the focus on vulnerable population in particular women and children in contact with criminal justice system. The Women and Children Empowerment (WCE) Unit of TIJ works to ensure that the rights of women and children are protected, and that legal infrastructure is in place to enable their active participation in the society.
TIJ aims to promote right based juvenile justice system. In this regard, the WCCJ unit supports the implementation of the United Nations Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence against Children in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. This UN instrument provides framework for the criminal justice systems to achieve standard in protecting children from violence, through comprehensive prevention with proper focus on the needs of child victims and witnesses of violence, and proper safeguards for children in contact with the justice system. In implementing this instrument, TIJ invests in creating platforms to facilitate discussion among players of all sectors involved in child protection in Thailand with an aim to build an agreeable national roadmap with key activities.
Flagship Activities
In terms of prevention and protection of child victim of violence, the unit works closely with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Fight Against Child Exploitation (FACE foundation) in organizing training courses for local authorities in combatting the problem of child sex tourism. We continue to work with partners to build capacity of local practitioners to provide cares for child victims of violence.
On protection of women, our research projects cover a range of issues of access to justice. In collaboration with partners, we work to enhance capacity of stakeholders in providing legal service to women with a view to create gender sensitive justice system. Beyond the aspect of women as victims, we promote the role of women as key contributors to the justice system and to the development of the society. In this regards, a series of research projects have been initiated to envisage the role of women as justice maker and as key players in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Apart from research projects and capacity building activities, TIJ believes in the crucial role of awareness raising to build culture of lawfulness within the society. The campaign “Speak Up Speak Out” has been created to serve as platform for young generation to voice their concern on violence against women and against children. This initiative encourages university and high school students to create their own message that will best tackle the issues among the youth.
Key Partners
The Women and Children Empowerment Unit of TIJ works closely with domestic and international stakeholders. Our key partners include, the Ministry of Justice, the Office of Attorney General, Thailand Sustainable Development Foundation, Foundation of Virtuous Youth, the Department of Special Investigation, Fight Against Child Exploitation (FACE Foundation), UNWomen and UNODC. A number of our research projects have been conducted in collaboration with international experts from University of Cambridge Centre for Development Studies and International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy (ICCLR) in Vancouver, Canada.
