Ibero-American Regional Forum on Access to Justice
- Mar 04, 2026
- 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (EST/GMT+5 Panamá)
- Ministry of Government, Panama City
This regional forum will bring together a wide range of justice actors, civil society organizations, legal professionals, researchers, donors, and representatives of marginalized communities for a day of interactive dialogue and shared learning.
Within the context of the work of the Ibero-American Alliance for Access to Justice, the Ibero-American Regional Forum on Access to Justice constitutes a strategic space for dialogue and coordination aimed at strengthening the future implementation and positioning of the Ibero-American Convention on Access to Justice (CIAJ), promoting a people-centered approach to justice in the region.
The event will take place in the sidelines of the Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Ministers of Justice of the Ibero-American Countries (COMJIB), with the objective of generating technical inputs, consolidating political consensus, and aligning strategic priorities to advance a more inclusive, effective, and transformative model of access to justice for people.
The event will be divided in 3 parts:
- Technical Session: “Regional Momentum for the Ibero-American Convention on Access to Justice” (10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m)—Meeting with civil society organizations aimed at laying the groundwork for the development of a document to promote and position the Ibero-American Convention on Access to Justice.
- High-Level Meeting: “A Common Framework and Innovative Solutions for Access to Justice in Ibero-America” (3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m)—High-level discussion designed to reflect on the Convention and strengthen political commitment to an access to justice model that transforms people’s lived experiences.
- Strategy Meeting of the Ibero-American Alliance on Access to Justice: (Hybrid, invite only) (5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m)—Internal Alliance meeting conceived as a strategic space to align key messages emerging from the day and agree on short-, medium-, and long-term objectives.
Co-organized by the Ibero-American Alliance on Access to Justice, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, the Grassroots Justice Network (GJN), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Justice Project (WJP), and the Conference of Ministers of Justice of the Ibero-American Countries (COMJIB), with the support of the Ministry of Government of Panama.
Agenda
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Registration and Welcome
Registration of participants and informal networking
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Technical Session Regional Momentum for the Ibero-American Convention on Access to Justice
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Opening
Welcome and purpose of the meeting
- Fernando Marani: Program Director of Justice, Inclusion and Equality, Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, NYU Center on International Cooperation
- Dinoska Yineth Montalvo de Gracia, Minister of Government, Panamá
Progress Report on the Ibero-American Convention on Access to Justice
- Jose Ramon Anton, Advisor to the Secretary General, COMJIB
Full Agenda
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Technical Framework
Presentation of working methodology, basic conceptualization, and the role of civil society in the process
- María Fernanda Rodriguez, Coordinator of the Ibero-American Alliance on Access to Justice, Former Deputy Minister of Justice of Argentina, Senior Fellow, NYU Center on International Cooperation
- Luciana Bercovich, Senior Manager, Grassroots Justice Network
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CIAJ Technical Review
- Technical Secretariat Ibero-American Alliance
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Coffee break
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Collaborative Work Sessions by CIAJ Areas
Group analysis of the different areas of the Convention, identifying scope, challenges, and contributions from civil society
TBC
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Integration and Closing Plenary Session
Sharing results and building an integrated vision of the Convention
- Moderated by: Alejandro González, Chief Engagement Officer, World Justice Project
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Lunch
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Presentation of the Regional Framework for Justice and Gender
Café Libertad, MINGOB -
High-Level Meeting A Common Framework and Innovative Solutions for Access to Justice in Ibero-America
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Opening Remarks
- Revai Makanje Aalbaek, Global Lead and Advisor on Rule of Law, Justice, and Security, Crisis Office, United Nations Development Programme (TBC)
- Tatyana Teplova, Division Head and Senior Advisor, Public Governance Directorate, OECD
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Justice Action Coalition and Regional Alliances
- Fernando Marani,Program Director of Justice, Inclusion and Equality, Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, NYU Center on International Cooperation
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Open Discussion
- Moderated by: María Fernanda Rodriguez , Coordinator of the Ibero-American Alliance on Access to Justice, Former Deputy Minister of Justice of Argentina, Senior Fellow, NYU Center on International Cooperation
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Closing Remarks: Results and Conclusions
- Enrique Gil Bottero, Secretary General, COMJIB
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Strategy Meeting of the Ibero-American Alliance on Access to Justice
Invite only -
Summary of the Day
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Strategy and Work Plan 2026–2029
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Preparation of the Alliance's Positioning
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Closing and Next Steps
Organizers
More about the Ibero-American Alliance
Members include:
Civil Association for Equality and Justice (ACIJ); Conference of Ministers of Justice of the Ibero-American Countries (COMJIB); Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF); Foundation for the Internationalization of Public Administrations (FIAP); Grassroots Justice Network (GJN); Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL); Ibero-American Association of Public Prosecutors (AIAMP); Ibero-American Institute of Procedural Law (IIDP); Inter-American Association of Public Defender Offices (AIDEF); International Open Justice Network; Justice Studies Center of the Americas (JSCA/CEJA); Latin American and Caribbean Network for Democracy; Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies; Pro Bono Network of the Americas; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); United Nations Latin American Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (ILANUD); World Justice Project (WJP).