Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Mahidol University’s recognition of the importance of human rights and peace is one of its key missions. The University established the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRP) in 1998 to provide study programs in peace, conflict, justice and human rights in the Asia-Pacific region, and globally. The courses are available for all students, and include basic human-rights concepts and conflict management. IHRP has produced academic research, organized training programs for human rights personnel, human rights defenders, members of civil society organizations, and government officers. In 2004, IHRP participated in resolving conflicts in the three southern border provinces (Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat), which have been violent conflict zones. IHRP aims to promote cooperation between all parties to elicit appropriate solutions, and to conduct activities by providing public spaces for policy discussions. The research findings and recommendations led to the “Interfaith Buddy project: Leaders for Weaving Peace and Reconciliation in Thailand”. This project gathered religious leaders, public-health volunteers, and public-health personnel to generate understanding and reconciliation, and inform social policy development using health issues, which are major strengths of Mahidol University. It has been able to create buddy networks between religious leaders for collaborations in 12 pairs, in over 38 strategic policy areas. The IHRP designed the policy proposals for social reconciliation, and published in-depth management progress reports in 3 languages. It also published a storybook for the education sector, the “Interfaith Buddy: Leaders for Weaving Peace and Reconciliation in Thailand”, and the “Interfaith Buddy for Peace” Facebook site to promote activities and campaigns for peace. Mahidol University also focuses on the rights of the child. The Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital published “Cohort and Cross-Sectional Research in Pediatric Boxers” and the Thai Boxing Act 2018 was subsequently amended. The Act does not allow children aged under 12 years to participate in a boxing match, and children aged between 12-14 years must have a permit before joining a boxing match. “Child Death Review: transforming evidence to policy and practice” (CDR) research played an important role influencing the emergence of child rights policy to reduce the child mortality rate. The 4 policies are as follows: 1. The policy on the use of a child car seat in vehicles in the Road Traffic Act (No. 13). 2. The policy on reducing the mortality of adolescents aged under 15 years from driving. 3. The policy on the rate of deaths by drowning among children, whereby the death rate must be less than 2 per 100,000 persons. 4. The policy on cause of death, to prevent child and youth mortality in Amnat Charoen Province.
