Regional Centre in Bangkok

Outsourced Research

• Case Study on Civil Society Oversight: The Experience of Bantay Katarungan (Sentenial Justice) in the Philippines (size: 109 Kb)
  Florin Hilbay, Bantay Katarugan
  October 2003
  This paper examines the work of Bantay Katarungan, an independent NGO in the Philippines that monitors and advocates for reforms in the justice system. As a case study on the role of civil society oversight, it analyzes the activities and functions of the organization to gather lessons on what allows it to be successful in its oversight functions.
• Background Paper on Access to Justice Indicators in the Asia-Pacific Region size: 342 Kb)
  Salle Institute of Governance
  October 2003
  This paper is an initial attempt to develop indicators that can be for comparing access to justice in the Asia-Pacific region. indicators were adopted and collated from an array of sources and follow the approach of the UNDP Asia-Pacific Rights and Justice by categorizing them in terms of indicators for Normative Protection, Capacity to Seek a Remedy and Capacity to Provide Effective Remedies.
• Interfaces Between Formal and Informal Justice Systems to Strengthen Access to Justice by Disadvantaged People
(size: 184 Kb)
Sinclair Dinnen, Australian National University
November 2003
This paper provides a historical and social background to the ongoing efforts at law and justice reform in the Melanesian context and discuses the significance of such systems and states why the informal justice systems in Melanesia need to be appreciated. The paper mainly argues that the operations of both formal and informal justice systems should ideally be complimentary, however, it also clarifies that the outset that 'traditional' and informal justice systems be recognized and supported when they are consistent with the rule of law and respect for human rights.
• Stimulating a National Response to Human Rights Conventions in Pacific Island Countries: Translation of Human Rights Conventions into National Legislation, Implementing Rules, Regulations, and Common Law in Pacific Island Countries (size: 461 Kb)
  William Pryor, Regional Rights Resource Team, Fiji
  October 2003
  This paper reviews the nature of the obstacles faced by those attempting to apply international human rights instruments to the local context. Looking at the Pacific Island Countries, it links the international framework to the local legal framework for the disadvantaged and examines strategies devised to overcome obstacles to the nationalisation of international human rights instruments in the Pacific. It also offers potential courses of action for future programming.
• Police Practices: Obstructions to Poor People's Access to Justice
(size: 335 Kb)
G.P. Joshi, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
2003
This paper discusses some major obstacles facing poor and disadvantaged people in accessing justice to justice due to bad policing. It focuses particularly on the Indian experience. It examines the difficulties in transitioning to a democratic police service, highlights specific police practices that hinder access to justice for disadvantaged groups and strategies to overcome them, and finally attempts to make some recommendations for UNDP programming in the area.
• Penal Reform Strategies in Asia and the Pacific: The Experience of Penal Reform International and Partners on Prison Reform and Access to Justice (size: 408 Kb)
  Penal Reform International (PRI)
  UNDP RCB > Focus Areas (Practices) > Governance > Justice and Human Rights > Lessons
  This paper discusses the prison system in the Asia-Pacific region. It points out the problems facing many prisoners including prison conditions, prison services, specific problems facing vulnerable prisoners. It also provides recommendations to improve the standards prisons and treatment of prisoners.