Introductory Course on International and National Environmental Law and Governance in Thailand

Introduction

Criminals caught for illegal wildlife trafficking or other environmental crimes can be arrested only to be released with no or minimal penalty due to poorly prepared, prosecuted, or adjudicated cases. To address this issue, USAID Wildlife Asia, in partnership with Thailand’s Judicial Training Institute (JTI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) developed an Introductory Course on International and National Environmental Law and Governance in Thailand. The course comprises 10 self-paced online modules that combine online learning with moderated tutorials and review that can be conducted in-person or virtually. The course is in Thai and English.

What is the aim of the course?

The course aims to provide judges with the foundational knowledge on environmental law principles and their application, enabling them to adjudicate environmental criminal court cases as serious transnational organized crimes. It also serves as continuing education for those updating their knowledge on international and national environmental legislation and governance issues.

Who is the course for?

The course specifically targets judges-in-training as well as sitting judges across all tiers of the Thai courts system including trial court, appellate court, and Supreme Court levels and provides a comprehensive introduction to environmental law for those with limited exposure to environmental crimes cases including those related to illegal wildlife trafficking.

What are the expected outcomes of the course?

By training both acting and trainee judges on the foundations of environmental law and environmental crimes including best practices and sentencing guidelines, judges and lawyers can bring more robust cases to court.

Where can I find the course?

The course is available on the United Nations Information Portal on Multilateral Environmental Agreements (InforMEA).