TIJ in partnership with the Government of Thailand and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), hosted a side event titled “15 Years of the Bangkok Rules: A Journey Toward Gender-responsive Justice” at the Asia-Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Fifteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on 21 January 2025 in Bangkok.
The event commenced with special remarks by H.E. Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice of Thailand, and introductory remarks by Benedikt Hofmann, Acting Regional Representative, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, UNODC highlight the key 15-year milestone to exacerbate international efforts and support on this issue. This was followed by a panel discussion, moderated by Chontit Cheunurah, Director of the Office for the Bangkok Rules and Treatment of Offenders at the TIJ. The panelists include Phiset Sa-ardyen, Executive Director of TIJ; Nouth Savna, Deputy Director General of Prisons of Cambodia; and Jail Chief Inspector Lourvina L Abrazado, of Warden of Quezon City Jail, the Philippines, representing diverse experience in adopting gender-responsive practices. The discussion also featured a special intervention delivered by Dr. Woong Seok Jeong, President of the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice.
The discussion highlighted key insights, including the progress achieved in implementing the Bangkok Rules over the past 15 years and the successful adoption of gender-responsive practices and reforms across the region. Participants also examined challenges to implementation and identified gaps in addressing the unique needs of women prisoners and offenders. Additionally, updates were shared on ongoing initiatives led by TIJ, UNODC, and international partners, underscoring collaborative efforts to advance gender-responsive approaches in the criminal justice system.
