HiiL | User-friendly Justice

Addressing Iraq’s justice gap is crucial, especially for those who have been forcibly displaced and need accessible, effective legal support. Our engagement in Iraq began with a 2023 Justice Needs Survey (JNS) conducted in partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, revealing that nearly 50% of surveyed individuals faced significant legal issues, particularly related to Housing, Land, and Property Rights (HLP) 🇮🇶   Building on these insights, in 2024 we launched the "Iraq Justice Innovation Initiative,” a project focused on HLP and durable solutions for the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. This programme, funded by The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) in collaboration with UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme), has supported four justice initiatives aimed at helping displaced persons, most of them women, amongst the Yazidis community. 🗣️ On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (#EndViolenceAgainstWomen), we’re especially proud to spotlight four woman-led Iraqi initiatives. These changemakers will be presenting their work tomorrow at an event in Erbil, showcasing how their initiatives address real legal challenges faced by their communities. Together, we’re creating impactful solutions for a peaceful and just Iraq. #IraqJusticeInnovation #ClosingTheJusticeGap #AccessToJustice #Women

Today marks HiiL’s start as a founding member of the African Alliance for People-Centred Justice 🌍 We are honoured to join a coalition which unites government, intergovernmental, and civil society actors to bridge the justice gap and foster inclusive, people-centred justice systems across Africa—a significant step toward the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and advancing justice as a foundation for sustainable development #SDG16 📺 Join the live stream to hear HiiL's Aminatou Daouda Hainikoye delivering our pledge of membership: https://lnkd.in/esjgqWin

Find HiiL at the Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law Annual Conference #KPAC24 tomorrow in Dakar, where we will be actively contributing to key discussions on people-centred justice, including leading a dedicated session to rebuild trust through data-driven policies: 🔹Rebuilding Trust and the Social Contract / Reconstruire la confiance et le contrat social par des politiques axées sur les personnes. Led by our very own Marie Duprez, HiiL is hosting a session (in French) on data-driven approaches to put people back at the heart of justice. Bringing together expert voices from #BurkinaFaso and #Niger, we’ll dive into innovative models and real-world examples that are rebuilding trust through people-centred justice. Experts from Niger will share their experience on two critical aspects: 1️⃣ The role and position of traditional leadership in people-centred justice 2️⃣ Inclusion of specific needs of women and children in justice systems. 🔹 KPAC24 also marks HiiL’s start as a founding member of the African Alliance for People-Centred Justice 🌍 Don’t miss the launch session by Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, where HiiL's Aminatou Daouda Hainikoye will deliver our pledge of membership. This coalition unites government, intergovernmental, and civil society actors to bridge the justice gap and foster inclusive, people-centred justice systems across Africa—a significant step toward the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and advancing justice as a foundation for sustainable development #SDG16 HiiL’s participation at #KPAC24 highlights our global commitment to justice reform and the power of people-centred approaches as a foundation for building trust and resilient societies. 👥 Together, we work toward justice that is accessible, fair, and meaningful for all / Ensemble, nous travaillons pour une justice accessible, équitable et significative pour tous. #AfricanAlliancePCJ #PeopleCentredJustice

Shaping a more people centered justice system in action. Earlier this month, I was in Nairobi with my colleague, Hamza, HiIL's programme manager for Anglophone Africa, for the celebration of 12 Years Supreme Court of Kenya (https://lnkd.in/exnYuT8p). A couple of impressions I came home with: First: Consistent leadership matters, beyond the person at the top (see pillar 1 of the OECD Recommendation on Access to Justice and People Centered Justice Systems: setting a vision and culture). In Kenya: 3 chief justices who build on each other, strategic plans build on each other, talented professionals rising to the top. See also, the Social Transformation through Access to Justice blueprint (https://lnkd.in/ebg6qn68) Second: a Supreme Court can successfully create an enabling environment for people centered justice (see pillar 3 of the OECD Recommendation on Access to Justice and People Centered Justice Systems). Meaningfully and consistently engaging with groups of people impacted by justice systems, strengthening co-ordination and co-operation mechanisms across government bodies and agencies, and strengthening the independence and accountability of justice institutions. Third: you can commit to robust evidence based planning an monitoring regularly conducting robust review, evaluation and assessment of the performance of justice systems and services (pillar 5 of the OECD Recommendation on Access to Justice and People Centered Justice Systems), with the annual State of the Judiciary Report (SOJAR). See the most recent edition: https://lnkd.in/edJY4YUJ and https://lnkd.in/eKScbBAy). The president of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. William Ruto, also attended. See: https://lnkd.in/eb7jgqP6. This video shows some of structural tensions between the executive and judiciary powers that emerge. Not easy.

#Data on justice needs and experiences is essential for accurately diagnosing issues, designing effective solutions, and ensuring successful implementation. The OECD - OCDE ‘Recommendation on Access to Justice and People-Centered Justice Systems’ emphasizes the crucial role of data-driven decision-making in creating fair and accessible justice for all. 📊 By prioritising the collection and analysis of justice-related data, countries can gain valuable insights into the realities faced by individuals navigating the #justice system. User-friendly platforms like the 🌐 Justice Dashboard 🌐 provide accessible information that can guide stakeholders in developing targeted interventions. This commitment to evidence-based planning, monitoring, and evaluation ensures continuous improvement and accountability within our justice system. On the HiiL Justice Dashboard, you can access #JusticeData from 18 different countries, with the most recent additions including: 🇹🇳 Tunisia: https://lnkd.in/eRuUT2pX  🇺🇬And Uganda: https://lnkd.in/e7RdSNwA By embracing this #DataDriven, participatory approach, we can create a justice system that not only responds to current needs but also evolves to meet future challenges, ensuring it remains equitable and effective for all. Visit the Justice Dashboard: https://lnkd.in/e4zypiq

The relationship between #displacement and lack of access to #justice is a vicious cycle. For many people in #Honduras, displacement is often a result of fear, violence, insecurity, and human rights violations. However, once displaced, these individuals face even greater legal challenges—from domestic violence, family issues and debt-related problems. ⛓️💥 Without proper access to justice, displaced people find themselves stuck in limbo, unable to resolve disputes or assert their rights. This leads to prolonged vulnerability, economic hardship, and social exclusion, making it harder for them to rebuild their lives. The lack of legal recourse also perpetuates the conditions that lead to displacement in the first place, feeding into the cycle. 🔴 Addressing this requires urgent systemic reforms to create a justice system that is accessible, people-centred, and responsive to the needs of the most vulnerable. #Data collection in the justice sector is critical in identifying the gaps and challenges these communities face. By understanding these patterns, governments and justice providers can build more inclusive and resilient justice systems. 📊 The HiiL & UNHCR report on the justice needs of displaced populations in Honduras, the first of its kind in Latin America, offers a roadmap on how improving access to justice is essential to breaking this cycle: https://lnkd.in/eAR2Wncg ACNUR, Agência da ONU para Refugiados UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

Distrust in institutions is one of the biggest barriers to accessing justice. Many vulnerable populations such as internally displaced people (#IDPs) don’t attempt to resolve their legal problems because they’ve lost faith in the system. 🗣️ Those we interviewed feel that effective justice is out of reach. Our new Justice Needs and Satisfaction study in Honduras highlights how this lack of trust fuels a cycle of unresolved issues and deepens inequalities. ⚖️ With the right tools, governments and justice providers can improve access to justice. The Honduras report is one example of how data collection and qualitative interviews can help governments, the ministries of justice, and justice providers identify gaps and create solutions that work for vulnerable populations. ➡️ Read the report: https://lnkd.in/eAR2Wncg It’s time to rebuild trust by making justice systems more transparent, fair, and accessible for all. #PeopleCentredJustice UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency ACNUR, Agência da ONU para Refugiados

#PeopleCentredJustice ⚖️

Unresolved justice issues have immense consequences on well-being, economic prosperity, and social stability, particularly for internally displaced people (#IDPs) in #Honduras. In fact, when 3 out of 4 Hondurans with legal problems report at least one serious consequence, such as loss of income, mental health issues like stress and anxiety, or a waste of valuable time; our data shows that IDPs experience even stronger and harsher consequences, which deepens their cycle of vulnerability and makes it even more difficult for them to rebuild their lives. ⛓️💥 To break this cycle, access to justice must be improved, ensuring that the most vulnerable populations can resolve their legal issues quickly and fairly. Only in this way will it be possible to promote the achievement of #DurableSolutions in which rights are restored and access to justice is guaranteed. 🇭🇳 Read our latest report, the first of its kind in Latin America, and discover in-depth stories of some of the displaced people: https://lnkd.in/eAR2Wncg With this report, Honduras has a great foundation to build on. It’s time to harness this momentum to ensure that its justice system serves durable solutions for all people—especially those most at risk. ACNUR, Agência da ONU para Refugiados - UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Justice is moving forward with justice delivery at the community level, aligned with priorities identified in their three-year justice transformational plan. As part of a broader ambition to build a more responsive justice system that works for people, two important milestones were achieved this week, alongside strategic alignment between Ethiopia’s Ministry of Justice and HiiL: ✅ The launch of Ethiopian Land Justice Guidelines ✅ Ethiopia’s first Community Justice Center Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/ecxgPs5q In partnership with the Ethiopian Ministry of Justice and Destiny Ethiopia, HiiL is committed to supporting a robust, #PeopleCentredJustice system in #Ethiopia, with a special focus on strengthening community justice. Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken