Memorandum of Understanding Signed with Office of the Judiciary of Thailand

19th February 2009

An important agreement on human rights education was signed between the Human Rights Law Centre and the Office of the Judiciary of Thailand on Tuesday, 17 February 2009.

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding coincided with the arrival of 46 judges and court officials from Thailand for a two-week long training course on international human rights standards and British best practice. The programme is the latest in a series of capacity-building programmes run by HRLC which, since 2007, has forged increasingly strong links with the Thai judiciary.

The Secretary General of the Office of the Judiciary, Mr Phinij Susaoraj, signed an agreement with the University's Vice-Chancellor Professor David Greenaway which will forge closer ties between the institutions. It will put the seal on the agreement to strengthen the unique link forged over the past two years by the human rights education programme that has been delivered by HRLC.

The current two-week seminar programme laid on for the members of the Thai judiciary is focusing on civil and political rights relevant to the criminal justice process. It also deals with human rights standards protecting vulnerable groups such as women and children. The delegates will be given a practical insight into the process of administration of justice in the United Kingdom by means of study trips to the Magistrates' and Crown Courts, and the prison in Leicester.

The course is being conducted by leading academics as well as experts from the local police, probation, courts and prison services. It also includes presentations from the Women's and Homeless Service, Metropolitan Support Trust and the UK Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. Speakers include Professor David Harris, HRLC Co-Director; Professor Geraldine Van Bueren, Professor of International Human Rights Law at Queen Mary University of London as well as Mr Nicholas Hodgson, Senior Lawyer at the Ministry of Justice.

Professor David Harris, HRLC Co-Director, said: “We are honoured to welcome the high-level delegation of the Office of the Judiciary to The University of Nottingham. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding marks an important milestone in our relations with the Thai Judiciary. We are pleased to contribute to human rights education in Thailand, and look forward to cooperating with the Thai Judiciary in the future.”