Equal Access to Justice for All in Criminal Justice Systems:

Side Event of the 35th Session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

Globally, we are experiencing serious setbacks in access to justice. At the same time, momentum among champions of access to justice in criminal justice systems remains strong through initiatives including (but not limited to) the implementation of the Equal Access to Justice for All resolution (A/RES/78/227) and recommendations developed in the Expert meeting on Equal Access to Justice held in Brasilia in December 2024, the agreed conclusions adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women in March 2026 which highlight access to justice for women and girls, the recent creation of the Group of Friends on Access to Justice, and the launch of the Justice Action Coalition’s Thematic Track on Criminal Justice. These are powerful initiatives that when working together present a unique opportunity for coordinated action to uphold access to justice in criminal justice systems in increasingly complex and constrained environments. 

Hosted by: The International Legal Foundation 

Co-organizers: The Government of Canada, the Justice Action Coalition, Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies (NYU Center on International Cooperation), ILANUD, the Global Working Group on SDG16+ Justice for Children, the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Penal Reform International

This interactive workshop will convene Member State representatives, coalitions, and civil society actors to strengthen alignment on equal access to justice for all within criminal justice systems taking a people-centered approach. The session will provide a timely space for participants to share current priorities, reflect on urgent barriers, and highlight near-term opportunities for coordinated action. Through a facilitated, discussion-based format, the workshop will focus on building a shared understanding of people-centered justice in the criminal justice context, reinforcing common priorities, and supporting more coherent, collaborative approaches to advancing access to justice in criminal justice systems.