TIJ International Forum, in Collaboration with IGLP - Harvard Law School,
Converges Perspectives from Global to Regional on the Rule of Law
The Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ), in conjunction with the Harvard Law School’s Institute for Global Law and Policy (IGLP), recently hosted the TIJ International Forum on the Rule of Law and Sustainable Development, called “Converging Perspectives from Global to Regional on the Rule of Law.” At the forum, world-class scholars from the Harvard Law School’s IGLP network shared perspectives on applying the rule of law and how it leads the way for positive change around the world. By providing stability and predictability, the rule of law serves as a foundation for sustainable development.
The scholars offered important insights into the rule of law from five perspectives, covering topics on policy, civic engagement, the rule of law in a global context, regional policy initiatives, and tackling inequality. Forum participants explored how these global insights can be effectively applied at a regional level.
Prof. Dr. Kittipong Kittayarak, Executive Director, Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ), said, “The TIJ International Forum converged global perspectives on the rule of law with approaches to regional development. As Asia’s first and only forum to bring together a dozen world-class scholars from various disciplines to share perspectives on international cases, their insights will be valuable to the Thai, Asian, and international forum participants as they further implement the rule of law. This is an important effort by the TIJ to mitigate inequality and injustice in society while working towards sustainable development.”
During the forum, Dr. David Kennedy, Director of the Institute for Global Law and Policy (IGLP) at Harvard Law School, presented a keynote address on the “Rule of Law: Policy Perspectives.” Dr. Valerie Hans, Professor of Law, Cornell Law School, offered insights on the “Rule of Law: Civic Perspectives.” Distinguished professors from several prominent global institutions also shared their perspectives, as did participants who joined the TIJ Workshop for Emerging Leaders on the Rule of Law and Policy, which took place from January 7 to 11. These promising leaders presented their policy initiatives for the region after synthesizing the framework for the rule of law and lessons learned.
The TIJ Forum on the Rule of Law and Sustainable Development is an important part of the learning process for the rule of law. It is an open platform for academics, experts, executives, and other stakeholders to shape the strategic approaches needed to successfully implement the rule of law in different environments by increasing awareness of the importance and benefits of the rule of law principles. The forum also featured case studies on relevant issues and the successful implementation of the rule of law principles.
“By exchanging perspectives and exploring case studies under different contexts, we can discover mutual solutions to increase awareness about how the rule of law links to development, leading to a more positive response as the rule of law is integrated into every aspect of living. This is especially important when it comes to inequality, which is a structural problem that requires close cooperation by all stakeholders as they work towards a just society where the fundamental values of the rule of law create a culture of fairness. This will be a driving force for Thailand and other countries, helping them to move forward with greater stability and long-term sustainability,” concluded Prof. Dr. Kittipong.
