Thai Judiciary meets with regional partners to promote environmental rule of law
One of the key roles of the judiciary is to strengthen environmental rule of law by building specialization in environmental adjudication through the creation of green benches and environmental courts. The judiciary crafts the way the legal system operates and the way that lawyers, the private sector, and the public understand the legal framework and how it is enforced.
The role of Thai courts in environmental law has evolved over the years to recognize individual and community rights to participate in the management and preservation of the environment. To date, the Supreme Court of Thailand has established environmental case divisions (or green benches) at the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court, and the trial court level.
“The judiciary must be nimble in advancing the cause of the environment, and adapt to evolving legal frameworks. No one agency can tackle environmental protection. We as judges must be armed with remedies and solutions. With advancements in legislations, the judiciary is undeniably required to keep pace with legislative progress to ensure that justice is rendered under the rule of law,” said Honorable Justice Thongchai Sanamontre, President of the Environmental Case Division of the Supreme Court of Thailand during his opening remarks.
The roundtable also launched and presented the Supreme Court of Thailand-the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Biennial Partnership Work Plan 2019-2021. Through this partnership, USAID Wildlife Asia together with the U.S. Department of Justice, are working on an in-depth analysis of potential judicial innovations and specific provisions in environmental jurisprudence that may be useful to the Thai judiciary. The work plan also includes development of a dedicated counter-wildlife trafficking curriculum for the Judicial Institute of Thailand.
In her opening remarks, Angela Hogg, Regional Environment Office Director, USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia said “The judiciary plays an important leadership role in fighting illegal wildlife trafficking and other environmental crimes. We are honored that USAID Wildlife Asia is recognized as a partner by the Supreme Court of Thailand. We look forward to working together on a range of issues in the coming years, such as the development of a Green Benches program under the Supreme Court’s Environmental Division.”
- Watch the opening session by Justice Thongchai Sanamontre, President of the Environmental Case Division of the Supreme Court of Thailand, and Angela Hogg, Regional Environment Office Director, USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia https://bit.ly/2lVARer
- Watch a session on Background and Presentation of the joint SC-USAID Wildlife Asia Biennial Work Plan 2018-2020 presented by Peter Collier, Chief of Party, USAID Wildlife Asia; and a roundtable discussion on Trends and Emerging Issues in Environmental Justice https://bit.ly/2m2DgUR
