Strengthening International Legal Cooperation: UIHJ President’s Official Visit to Thailand
Bangkok / Ayutthaya / Samut Prakan – August 26–28, 2025
The President of the International Union of Judicial Officers (UIHJ), Marc Schmitz, carried out an official study visit to the Kingdom of Thailand from 26 to 28 August 2025. The visit, organized in close cooperation with the Legal Execution Department (LED) of the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Thailand, provided an opportunity to strengthen institutional dialogue, explore innovative practices, and exchange on the future of enforcement procedures in an era of rapid technological change.
High-Level Meeting with the Minister of Justice
The mission began in Bangkok on 26 August 2025, where Marc Schmitz and a delegation of the Legal Enforcement Department (LED) under the direction of Mr. Seaksan Sooksang, Director General, were received by H.E. Tawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice of the Kingdom of Thailand.
The discussions focused on some of the most pressing topics in the modernization of justice systems worldwide:
- Digitalisation of justice and its impact on the profession of judicial officers,
- Enforcement on digital assets, an area of increasing importance in today’s digital economy,
- Artificial intelligence in the judiciary and enforcement proceedings, with both the opportunities it offers and the challenges it raises in terms of fairness, transparency, and ethics.
This high-level exchange reaffirmed the strong cooperation between Thailand’s Ministry of Justice through its Legal Enforcement Department (LED) and the UIHJ in shaping the justice of tomorrow.
Institutional Visits in Bangkok
Alongside the ministerial meeting, the UIHJ President visited two institutions in the Thai justice system:
- The Civil Case Enforcement Office Bangkok 7, where he gained first-hand insight into the daily work of legal officers in enforcement proceedings.
- The Thai Arbitration Center (THAC), a leading institution in alternative dispute resolution, offering valuable perspectives on how Thailand combines judicial enforcement with arbitration to strengthen access to justice.
Ayutthaya: A Warm Welcome at the Legal Execution Department
On 27 August 2025, the delegation travelled to Ayutthaya, the historic former capital of Thailand, where Marc Schmitz was warmly welcomed at the Legal Execution Department.
The visit enabled in-depth exchanges on current practices in enforcement, challenges faced by judicial officers, and perspectives for future cooperation.
This step illustrated the openness to international dialogue and to continuous improvement of enforcement mechanisms in line with global standards.
Samut Prakan: Discovering Public Auctions
The study visit concluded on 28 August 2025 in Samut Prakan, a province located south of Bangkok. There, Marc Schmitz observed public auction proceedings organized by the Legal Execution Department.
The scale and efficiency of the process were particularly striking: in just two hours, more than 200 properties were put to auction. This demonstrated the remarkable organizational capacity of the Thai system and the crucial role public auctions play in effective enforcement of judgments.
A Shared Vision for the Future of Justice
The three-day program showcased Thailand’s commitment to innovation in justice and reaffirmed UIHJ’s role as a global platform for dialogue on enforcement and judicial modernization.
By engaging directly with the Minister of Justice, visiting enforcement offices, and observing public auctions, the mission created valuable opportunities for cooperation, mutual learning, and the advancement of shared objectives:
- making justice more accessible,
- ensuring enforcement adapts to digital transformation,
- preparing judicial officers worldwide for the challenges of the 21st century.
As Marc Schmitz underlined at the end of his visit: “This study visit to Thailand has been both inspiring and instructive. It confirms the importance of international collaboration to shape a justice system that is efficient, fair, and prepared for the future.”
On the occasion of the upcoming UIHJ Permanent Council in Paris this November, a new Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the UIHJ and the Legal Execution Department (LED) of the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Thailand, reaffirming their close cooperation.
