"Access to justice is the foundation of peaceful societies, trust in governments and economic stability."

What to expect

HiiL is convening a high-level action-orientated gathering where global leaders will: 

• Highlight the urgency of improving justice systems to address the most pressing justice problems faced by people and SMEs.
• Demonstrate how justice plays a critical role in promoting well-being, stability, and economic prosperity.
• Showcase actionable solutions—what works, who’s leading the way and how to scale progress  
• Mobilise investments for  People-Centered Justice.
• Strengthen leadership in justice, with a particular focus on Dutch contributions.

The program

The day will begin with “The Justice Gap: Defining the Challenge”, a plenary session grounded in data and lived experiences, highlighting how justice system failures impact societal stability, well-being, and economic growth. This will be followed by “Why Justice Matters”, a cross-sector conversation showing how justice underpins inclusive development and trust, with insights from civil society, business, and security sectors. The session “We Know What Works” will outline a roadmap for implementing and scaling people-centered justice, emphasizing enabling environments and the critical role of bar associations. “Justice in Action” will showcase TED-style talks from innovators behind scalable justice solutions transforming communities and institutions worldwide. Finally, “Scaling for Impact” will address the key barriers to scaling these efforts—ranging from political will to sustainable financing.  

From justice gaps to real solutions

The 2024 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index shows a troubling decline for the seventh consecutive year, signaling a global crisis in justice delivery. Amidst this backdrop, critical funding support is dwindling and the foundational values of justice and rule of law are being questioned. But now, with this approach that is data-driven, evidence-based, and innovation-focused, making justice systems can become more effective and responsive to the needs of people and small medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Recognised by OECD in its 2023 Recommendation on Access to Justice, endorsed by the EU, and gaining worldwide traction, it is now time to move from commitment to large-scale action. 

About HiiL 

The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) is an organisation dedicated to ensuring that justice is accessible, affordable, and easy to understand - people-centred justice. By collaborating with justice providers, including ministries of justice and judiciaries, they develop solutions that enable more individuals to prevent or resolve their justice challenges. This not only benefits people directly but also fosters safe, stable societies where economic growth, innovation and entrepreneurship thrive. Their work spans multiple countries, with programmes in Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Niger, Burkina Faso, the Netherlands, Iraq and Syria.