Communicating Across Disciplines: How to Make Justice Matter to All

September 12, 2025 | 10:00–11:30 a.m. (EST)

United Nations Headquarters Conference Room 11
405 E 45th St, New York, NY 10017 | Virtual via UN WebTV

Download the concept note  | See the pictures from the event

We know that when people can resolve their justice problems, they are less likely to be trapped in poverty, more likely to finish school, healthier, safer, and better equipped to face the future, including by building climate resilience and accessing economic opportunities. But here’s the challenge: those outside the justice community don’t always see these connections. They don’t usually think about “justice,” even when it’s at the heart of their goals. That’s where this event comes in.

To close the global justice gap, the justice and rule of law sector has built an international movement based on the principles of people-centered justice, which was catalyzed in 2021 by the creation of the Justice Action Coalition—a group comprising countries and partners who are leading the international effort to secure meaningful access to justice for all. 

This event aims to explore new tools to improve people-centered justice communications strategies, taking the movement beyond the “justice” world and into new spaces through effective advocacy and messaging. This event will include a panel of advocacy and communications experts who offer fresh perspectives and unconventional thinking. By design, the panelists come from outside the justice sector, offering authentic insights into how justice can resonate with diverse audiences. These experts will share their approaches to advocacy, messaging, audience engagement, and campaigning, and offer practical advice about how the justice community can break out of its communication “bubble.” The discussion will explore ways to connect meaningfully with wider audiences—from policy experts, diplomats, and business leaders, to communities far removed from the policy arena altogether.

This event is hosted by the Pathfinders Justice for All program at New York University’s Center on International Cooperation in its role as secretariat of the Justice Action Coalition, and in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations and the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations.

Agenda

Opening Remarks: 

• Ambassador Maritza Chan, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations
• Ambassador Bahia Tahzib, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations

Framing Remarks on People-Centered Justice 

• Fernando Marani, Program Director, Justice, Inclusion, and Equality, Pathfinders, Center on International Cooperation at New York University 

Panelists:

• Stephen Friedman, Former President of MTV; Advisor to media organizations, foundations and NGOs on storytelling for social change; Adjunct Professor, Columbia University SIPA; Board of Directors for the Genocide Survivors Foundation, All Out, and More In Common
• Roberta Braga, Founder and Executive Director, Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas (DDIA); Fmr. Director of Counter-Disinformation Strategies at Equis Institute; Fmr. Deputy Director for Programs and Outreach at Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center; Latinas Cyber and WOMCY “Top Women in Cybersecurity Americas” 2023.
• Thomas Coombes, Founder, Hope-based communications; Fmr. Head of Brand and Deputy Communications Director, Amnesty International
• Clara Blustein Lindholm, Director of Research Interpretation, Framework Institute Culture Change Project
• Amanda Alampi, Director, Audience Engagement, Human Rights Watch; Part-time Instructor, Communications & Media Studies, Fordham University

Moderator:

Nate Edwards, Program Officer, Justice for All, Pathfinders, Center on International Cooperation at New York University

Register by September 8, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. (EST) →