LocationsWomen Judges in Thailand Convene to Advance Judicial Leadership and Inclusive Justice
June 1, 2026
Opening Session of Judicial Leadership Colloquium for Women Judges
Bangkok, 1 June 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme and the Court of Justice in Thailand, convened the Judicial Leadership Colloquium for Women Judges in Thailand on 28–29 May 2026 in Bangkok. The two-day colloquium brought together 38 women judges from across Thailand, including judges from trial and high courts, senior judicial leaders, and members of the Supreme Court, to strengthen leadership capacities and advance gender responsive justice within the judiciary.
The colloquium forms part of UNDP’s regional initiative Shift Underway: Women in Justice, supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Through this initiative, UNDP and its partners have convened national and regional judicial leadership dialogues with women judges across Thailand, Indonesia, Lao PDR, and — earlier in May 2026 — Bangladesh.
Building on lessons drawn from the Judicial Integrity Network in ASEAN (JIN ASEAN), the initiative positions women’s judicial leadership as a strategic entry point for building more people-centred justice systems across the region.
The Thailand colloquium also sits within UNDP Thailand’s broader Agents of Change portfolio, which positions judicial institutions as critical changemakers driving effective governance, gender equality, and the rule of law. It contributes directly to Sustainable Development Goal 5 (gender equality, including Target 5.5 on women’s leadership) and Sustainable Development Goal 16 (peaceful, just, and inclusive institutions).
Bridging the Leadership Gender Gap
In Thailand, the colloquium comes at an important moment as conversations around inclusive governance, institutional reform, and gender equality continue to gain momentum within the justice sector. While Thailand has made important progress in increasing women’s representation in the judiciary, challenges remain in ensuring women are equally represented in senior leadership and decision-making roles.
According to UNDP’s Women and Justice in the Asia-Pacific (2025) report, women now comprise approximately 30 per cent of judges within Thailand’s Court of Justice, up from 27.5 per cent in 2017. Since 2020, Thailand has also appointed four women Presidents of the Supreme Court — a milestone that few countries in the region have achieved. Yet despite this progress, structural gender gaps continue to persist both regionally and globally. Women make up just over 25 per cent of judicial officers worldwide, while in Asia the figure stands at only 29 per cent, significantly lower than in Europe and the Americas.
Thailand’s broader gender landscape also reflects this imbalance. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Index, Thailand ranks 21st globally in women’s economic participation, but 102nd in political empowerment — highlighting persistent barriers to women’s advancement into senior leadership roles across public institutions, including the judiciary.
The colloquium opened with welcoming remarks from Justice Muntharee Ujjin, President of the Court of Appeals of Thailand, Ms. Niamh Collier-Smith, Resident Representative of UNDP Thailand and Ms. Ebba Scholl, Deputy Head of Mission of Embassy of Germany in Bangkok.
Emphasizing the judiciary’s responsibility in advancing equal justice, Justice Ujjin noted that
“Judicial leadership is defined not by gender, but by integrity and commitment to justice. We have a responsibility to uphold the Rule of Law by ensuring equal access to justice and breaking down gender barriers within the justice system.”Justice Muntharee Ujjin, President of the Court of Appeal of Thailand
Group Discussion on Gender Strategy for the Court of Justice
Underscoring the broader significance of women’s leadership in justice systems, Ms. Collier-Smith added that
“Advancing gender equality in the judiciary is not only about representation. It is about strengthening the quality, integrity, and legitimacy of justice systems. This is central to advancing the rule of law and achieving SDG 5 on gender equality and SDG 16 on peaceful, just and inclusive societies. When women lead, justice systems become more inclusive, more trusted, and better equipped to serve the needs of all.”Niamh Collier-Smith UNDP Resident Representative to Thailand
From Individual Leadership to Institutional Strategy
The first day of the colloquium focused on judicial leadership development and the realities women judges face in navigating institutional structures, exercising influence, and advancing change within the judiciary.
Building on the discussions from Day One, the second day shifted toward institutional reform, strategic action, and long-term collaboration. Participants reflected on the leadership lessons and experiences shared during the colloquium and explored how these insights could translate into meaningful institutional change within the Thai judiciary.
Participants also engaged with regional experiences and examples from neighbouring jurisdictions, reflecting on how different approaches across Asia and the Pacific can inform Thailand’s own efforts to strengthen inclusive and people-centred justice systems.
Looking Ahead
The Judicial Leadership Colloquium in Thailand reflects growing regional momentum to strengthen women’s leadership in the judiciary and foster justice systems that are more inclusive, accountable, and trusted by the communities they serve.
As Aparna Basnyat, Regional Programme Specialist at UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub, noted in her closing remarks,
“The work of advancing gender-responsive justice systems is a long-term endeavour. Progress requires sustained institutional commitment, supportive policy frameworks, and — as this colloquium has illustrated — the collective agency of those working within the system.”Aparna Basnyat, Regional Programme Specialist at UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub
Judicial Leadership Colloquium for Women Judges in Thailand
By creating spaces for dialogue, reflection, and action, the colloquium contributes directly to Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality and Goal 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. It also reinforces ongoing efforts within Thailand’s justice sector to build institutions that are more responsive, representative, and equipped to serve the needs of all people.
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Media Contact:
Suparnee Pongruengphant, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor, UNDP Thailand
Tarinee Suravoranon, Portfolio Manager on Agents of Change, UNDP Thailand
About UNDP:
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