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Article 11

“The government should ensure that vulnerable groups

have access to legal advice and representation”

Commentary

Ms. Suwanna Suwanjuta
Ms. Suwanna Suwanjuta, Director-General of the It has been suggested that occurrences of
Department of Rights and Liberty Protection, injustice are more likely to occur at the beginning
Ministry of Justice, is aware of the efforts being of investigations, for instance during arrest and
made by the National Human Rights Commission interrogation, because people who are
on behalf of this man to bring about justice. She marginalized by society may not be aware of their
says that although the case may have already rights and therefore can be more easily
been closed, there is still a way for the courts to victimized. Ms. Suwanjuta notes that political
remedy the situation. According to the Criminal reforms of the past decade have promoted
Case Reconsideration Act (1979), if it can be access to the process of receiving justice.
proven that the convicted man is in fact not
guilty, compensation and reparation may be Insufficient collaboration is considered to be one
granted by the Department of Rights and Liberty of the problems of the criminal justice process in
Protection in accordance with the Remuneration Thailand: with each department focusing solely
for Victims Act (2001). on its own goals, there is a need for different
departments to work more closely together
It is important to note that this man is not the towards the improvement of rights in the criminal
only inmate convicted of a crime who might justice process. Furthermore, the government
actually be innocent. According to Ms. Suwanjuta, should ensure that vulnerable groups have access
the Possibly Innocent Inmate Examination to legal advice and representation, she
Project, first implemented in 2007, found that recommends.
more than 500 persons detained in 137
penitentiaries and prisons nationwide may be
innocent of the crimes for which they have been
convicted.

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