Creating Awareness and Building Bridges at the 3rd Annual Access to Justice Public Interest Fair
BRIDGES ACROSS BORDERS SOUTHEAST ASIA
COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION INITIATIVE
&
CLE FOUNDATION
| The 3rd Annual Access to Justice Public Interest Fair was held on 16th November 2013 at the Kantary Hills Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand. With a total of 28 organisations in participation, the Fair was brought to life by a dynamic and enthusiastic atmosphere. The Access to Justice Public Interest Fair is one of BABSEACLE and BABSEACLE Foundation’s major yearly events. The Fair is a networking hub for various organisations and foundations in the Southeast Asian region, to share their experiences and efforts in furthering access to justice. Indeed the Fair is a way for like-minded organisations to come together in their shared objectives, of creating awareness about social issues faced by marginalized groups. Organisations from this year’s event supported a diverse range of marginalized social groups, including; disadvantaged children, single mothers, transgender people, the elderly and many more. The Fair included attendees from organisations such as International Thai Foundation (ITF), United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA), International Justice Mission (IJM), University of Phayao, to name a few. All participant organisations enjoyed the opportunity to present their work through speeches and video presentations and were met with great enthusiasm from other attendees.The participant organisations were largely based in Southeast Asia, yet many attendants shared goals and objectives that reflected a global movement to help marginalized social groups. Supamat (Bee) Phonphra, Events Coordinator at BABSEACLE has stated, “the Access to Justice Public Interest Fair is an event which has gained momentum throughout the years. This year’s Fair saw organisations with diverse backgrounds and objectives come together to promote access to justice and social issues. I really enjoyed seeing the sense of community at the Fair, with all participants supporting each other.” Indeed the Access to Justice Public Interest Fair’s success is in part due to the willingness of foundations, organisations and everyday people, to join together in support of alleviating social justice issues and prejudice, with the aim of helping the development of marginalized groups and their communities. With the Access to Justice Public Interest Fair’s success being coined a networking hub for organisations and foundations in the Southeast Asian region, we look forward to next year’s Fair, and the potential it has to extend the outreach of efforts to create awareness about major social issues. We hope to see you at the 4th Annual Access to Justice Public Interest Fair in 2014! 3rd Access to Justice Public Interest Fair2nd Access to Justice Public Interest Fair |