It has officially begun for “RoLD Xcelerate” a platform for reforming the Rule of Law or a learning space to establish “Justice Makers” network bringing power from all sectors to drive the Rule of Law to lead to sustainable development under The Orientation Day “RoLD Xcelerate: Investing in the Rule of Law for a Sustainable Future” that Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ) held on June 20, 2024 at Conference Hall, 2nd floor, TIJ Common Ground, TIJ Building, Bangkok
This platform occurred from the intention of TIJ to strengthen Thailand’s rule of law and to ensure that everyone in society lives in happiness. Besides creating knowledge and adapting international standards to be consistent with Thailand’s social context, having partnerships for collaboration is the essential key to driving this topic. With this belief, TIJ has developed a course for executives on the rule of law and development (RoLD Program). Since 2017-2022, the RoLD Program has created a network of leaders in the rule of law and development (RoLD Fellows) for 5 generations, totaling 425 people from 277 organizations, both from the government sector, private organization, and civic sector.
“To put the rule of law in an accessible and easy-to-understand format, we draw strength from people with different roles, ideas, expertise, experiences, and interests. Even though there are many things different, we can find common ground. Five generations of RoLD Fellows are evidence to prove that our working model is on the right track. They are an important resource that TIJ has continuously invested in and they will serve as a platform for our future collaboration” said Dr. Phiset Sa-ardyen, Executive Director of the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ), on the occasion of welcoming the participants of the RoLD Xcelerate.
Professor Dr. Kittipong Kittayarak, Director of RoLD program and advisor to the TIJ emphasizes that in a society that is weak in democracy and high of conflict, cooperation from all sectors will be the key to successful the rule of law reform. Therefore, the expectation in RoLD Xcelerate is not only a course but also the power to drive the rule of law in the country to be forceful. Putting the public interest before one’s own and the readiness to do one’s duties to change society to be better together are DNA that all sectors have in common.
Dr. Anuwan Vongpichet, Deputy Executive Director of TIJ, provided additional information that this year, there are many people participated in “RoLD Xcelerate” which reached a record number of 99 people from 81 organizations including Justice-related Institutes (23%), Government Agencies (15%), Academic Institutes (15%), Private Companies (28%), Media/Influencer (9%), and NGOs, iNGOs (9%). Furthermore, there are people in different generations, including Gen B, Gen X and Gen Y brainstorm their ideas to work together in a truly safe space.
Therefore, what network participants will receive is not only becoming a member of the RoLD Fellows network, exchanging knowledge from experts, having a set of tools for creating innovation for society or observation in special areas but having a parallel stage of real work to be an opportunity for participation throughout the entire course.
Dr. Anuwan said “What we have done this year will be different from previous years which is making the rule of law measurable and verifiable. The key is to make the rule of law accessible to all which means that people can have a sense of ownership.”
The most special factor than ever in driving public policy is that TIJ in collaboration with the World Justice Project (WJP), will be the bridge connecting government mechanisms and the public sector. Therefore, the 99 RoLD Xcelerate members will not be our power only today but will be linked with RoLD Fellows to become a network of more than 500 people which will be the main core of driving the role of law in the civic sector mechanisms to connect with government sector. Now, a committee has been established to drive and develop the strengthening of the national rule of law to be a national mechanism to concretely reform the rule of law for the first time in Thailand.
