Thai Adults’ Knowledge and Awareness of Legal Rights and Access to Assistance Under the Thailand Justice Fund: Implications for the Implementation of a Rights-Based Approach

Deficits in public knowledge and understanding of legal rights have been widely recognized across many jurisdictions. This problem does not only affect access to justice but also has significant implications for the implementation of the Rights-Based Approach (RBA) within the criminal justice system, which presumes that rights-holders are able to recognize and claim their entitlements. While a substantial body of research has quantified public legal awareness, limited empirical attention has been paid to understanding how knowledge of legal rights within specific justice mechanisms, such as the Thailand Justice Fund (TJF), translates into the exercise of rights and access to justice in practice. Drawing on quantitative data from a nationwide survey of at least 3,200 respondents from the general public, this study examines levels of public awareness and knowledge of legal rights associated with the TJF. The article argues that deficits in such knowledge constrain the meaningful realization of the RBA, as justice mechanisms cannot function effectively as rights-based instruments when potential beneficiaries remain unaware of their legal entitlements.