Judicial Excellence in Response to Today’s Challenges

September 13, 2018

Chief Justices from the Greater Mekong Sub-region on stage at the opening ceremony Photo courtesy: The Office of the President of the Supreme Court of Thailand

Bangkok, 13-14 September 2018

The Office of the President of the Supreme Court of Thailand hosted the International Conference on “Judicial Excellence in Response to Today’s Challenges” with the support of UNDP. Over 200 Chief Justices and high-level judges and court officials from the Greater Mekong Sub-region, ASEAN and beyond gathered to discuss new challenges they are facing and share their experiences in addressing them. Among the many measures to enhance court management undertaken by the judiciaries, the International Framework for Court Excellence (IFCE) was presented, highlighting the impact of its use, experiences with adoption of the Framework by countries such as Singapore and the United States.

Following welcoming remarks by the President of the Supreme Court of Thailand, the event featured keynote speeches by the Chief Justices from the Greater Mekong Sub-region countries namely Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao PDR and Viet Nam outlining the context of judicial policies to deliver court excellence in the region.

The speakers at the conference noted the importance of judicial excellence in delivering justice for all, and the judiciary’s key role in strengthening the public’s trust in governments – including investors’. Thus, judiciaries can also positively influence their countries’ capacity to attract investment and sustain the dynamic growth which the Greater Mekong Sub-region countries and the broader ASEAN region are currently enjoying.

The IFCE was subsequently presented as a tool to diagnose courts’ challenges and prioritize reforms, which is designed to be adaptable to courts around the world. Members of the International Consortium on Courts Excellence also shared their experiences and perspectives in adapting and applying the tool for example in Singapore and the United States to enhance court management.

The event concluded on a forward-looking note, as judiciaries shared their experiences and knowledge, comparing the efforts undertaken to provide timely delivery of justice and their future plans and policies for reform.