November 3, 2025 — New York & Bangkok.

Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute and Clinic are proud to welcome Thammasat University as the newest partner in the TrialWatch Clinical Network. As part of the launch, faculty and students from the CLS Human Rights Clinic delivered a training on fair trial standards and trial monitoring methodology, equipping eight Thammasat law students to become trial monitors. “It was a privilege to help deliver the trial monitoring training while learning alongside the students at Thammasat University,” said Kaitlin Nguyen, a 3L student from the CLS Human Rights Clinic. “The students’ vocal interest in furthering justice and their willingness to engage across the time zone difference will translate into great work.” Fellow CLS clinic LL.M student Pranjali Kanel also reflected: “With international law and human rights in a state of pandemonium, seeing students from different jurisdictions’ interest in developing theories of change to better understand and advocate for the need for fair trials was inspiring. As a trainer, I felt hopeful for the future of international law and human rights.”

Thammasat University joins a robust and global network that includes partners in Uganda, the Philippines, Indonesia, and South Africa. Through the network, TrialWatch continues to expand its clinical education model and global trial monitoring work, engaging law students in the defense of fair trial rights and documenting abuses in courtrooms that often go unnoticed. Faculty at Thammasat University emphasized how the collaboration aligns with their vision of experiential legal education and deepens their students’ capacity to advocate for justice on the ground. “In Thailand, the rule of law faces persistent tests, particularly concerning freedom of expression and political rights. Our commitment at the Faculty of Law is to cultivate legal minds sensitive to the nuances of social justice and systemic barriers to access to justice” said Professor Amnart Tangkiriphimarn from Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law. “We want our students to know where they stand, to understand the law’s place in society, and to act with the courage to pursue social justice. To be proud, not only as professionals, but as ethical agents of justice” added Professor Kongsatja Suwanapech.

Next steps include finalizing the trial observation calendar and integrating the new monitors into semester-long placements, with continued mentorship from HRI and opportunities to contribute to public-facing research and advocacy. “This is exactly what TrialWatch is about: equipping the next generation of lawyers to stand up for fair trial rights while shining a light on courtrooms where those rights are at risk,” said Marian Da Silva, TrialWatch Legal Fellow. “We are honored to walk alongside Thammasat University in this work and excited to see how their students will turn these experiences into concrete change.”