TIJ Common Ground Open House
“It has been ordinary people who have ignited change throughout history. Starting with just a small voice, the concept of justice that we aspire to see can become reality.”
The TIJ Common Ground open house event took place on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at the new office building of the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ) on Chaengwattana Road, Bangkok, Thailand.
What is TIJ Common Ground ?
TIJ Common Ground is a new framework of the Thailand Institute of Justice that aims to promote community participation in exchanging opinions on social justice issues. It encourages a friendly, open, and creative atmosphere. There are activities for discussions and exchanging ideas on various topics related to social justice, await those interested at the 1st and 2nd floors of the TIJ building and in online platform.
With the belief that "justice is everyone's matter," the Institute recognizes the important role of civil society in addressing issues of justice. It emphasizes that the responsibility does not lie solely with the state but also requires the collective "voice" of individuals to bring about real change.
For those interested in creating innovation in justice related-issue, TIJ Common Ground has prepared the second floor as the “Justice Design Studio,” open for participation in engaging activities to address justice issues together.
During the event, Dr. Phiset Sa-ardyen, the Executive Director of TIJ, emphasized that "the concept of justice is not limited to the work of lawyers and policymakers but a matter for everyone." In order for the society to achieve sustainable development in all aspects, the TIJ stands to support the "justice sector" to respond appropriately to crimes and offenders, to ensure efficiency and fairness of the system. TIJ also welcomes the participation of "civil society and youth" believe that enhancing their capabilities and knowledge will strengthen confidence in legal principles and rule of law in society.
The Institute places importance on a people-centered strategy and believes that societal standards of justice, which are accepted and used as guiding principles for coexistence, can evolve and improve according to the dynamics of society. TIJ Common Ground, therefore, aims to open up discussions, inviting people from various backgrounds to come together, present their perspectives, and express their opinions on desired justice. This is done to share and gather knowledge, foster collaboration in designing a more just society, and inspire ongoing developmental innovations.
On March 30, 2023, TIJ Common Ground organized its first event under the main theme of "Rethinking Myths of Justice." The event aimed to present academic information and facilitate discussions and exchanges of perspectives “The cost of Access to Justice” based on research conducted by TIJ in collaboration with TDRI, focusing on the concepts of “time” and “cost” of all parties in criminal proceeding. Data were also presented in the form of an interactive website, simulating scenarios from sample cases, allowing everyone to understand, and where necessary, make informed decision where entering justice system. Participants to the seminars included students, scholars, government officials, personnel involved in the justice process, individuals from educational institutions, private sector networks, associations and foundations, as well as the general public. They had the opportunity to visit exhibitions and engage in discussions to explore ideas and share experiences.
The second official event of the TIJ Common Ground discussed another “Myth of Justice”, Children and violence, on May 26, 2023. The aim was to address the problem of juvenile delinquent and the concept of punishment vs prevention. Participants in the seminar reflected on the root causes of the problem and proposed non-violent and sustainable approaches to mitigate the problem as well as the role of society in protecting children. In addition, an exhibition titled “Rethinking Myths of Justice (?) : Violence and Children” was presented at the 1st floor of the TIJ building.
Both exhibitions are open to public on weekdays, between 09.30 am -17.30 pm.
