Monday, June 23, 2025—Friday, June 27, 2025
Standing Up for the Rule of Law
Join the Pathfinders at this year's World Justice Forum 2025 , where we will be speaking at, partnering on, and hosting a number of discussions and events advancing the conversation and action on people-centered justice, and themes relating to the rule of law and justice for all.
Hosted by Germany's Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development and organized by Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)—this Senior-Level Meeting of the Justice Action Coalition will take place on the sidelines of the World Justice Forum.
Organized by the Conference of Ministers of Justice of the Ibero-American Countries (COMJIB), Pathfinders for Peaceful Just and Inclusive Societies, Grassroots Justice Network, Civil Association for Equality and Justice (ACIJ, Argentina), Ibero-American Alliance for Access to Justice, World Justice Project, this event aims to build a regional binding instrument to advance access to justice in the region and arrive at common agreements on what it needs to make it happen.
Themba Mahleka, Senior Program Officer, Pathfinders will join session as a panelist to explore how effective financing and budgeting can advance the rule of law and support people-centered justice. He will will discuss practical tools like the Justice Financing Framework as a mechanisms to align funding with democratic standards and justice outcomes. The session will highlight the importance of sustained, flexible financing for civil society organizations, especially in contexts facing shrinking civic space and rising authoritarianism. It will also address how recent shifts in the international financing landscape are impacting rule of law outcomes, and how groups are adapting by identifying alternate funding streams and new collaborators. Drawing on global and regional experiences, the session will examine how strategic budgeting and advocacy can drive sustainable progress in justice and rule of law. This session is organized by the World Justice Project.
In alignment with the World Justice Forum's theme on accountable governance, this session will bring together Young Justice Leaders—whether as an intergenerational dialogue and/or as part of a conversation with other young leaders—who are actively involved in shaping democracy, justice, and governance in their countries. The dialogue will explore the intersection of youth leadership, democracy, and governance, with a particular focus on overcoming challenges, leveraging technology, and amplifying marginalized voices.
Through an interregional dialogue, the working session will highlight how people-centered justice models designed with a regional perspective can contribute to strengthening democratic legitimacy and bolster institutional resilience. It will explore how a comprehensive and people-centered justice approach not only ensures that justice serves individuals but also reinforces trust in institutions, strengthens social cohesion and becomes a fundamental pillar for democratic stability.
Organized by the Working Group on Customary and Informal Justice and SDG16+, the event will showcase effective engagement between diverse justice stakeholders that enhances access to justice and the rule of law, sustains peace, and contributes to land and climate justice. It will also serve as the public debut of the Working Group’s global advocacy campaign on diverse pathways to people-centered justice.
Aligning messages on people-centered justice: an advocacy resource for policymakers, practitioners, and members of the Justice Action Coalition (available in English and Spanish).
This communications and advocacy tool provides detailed messages and actions that build upon the Actions to Achieve People-Centered Justice resource and supports the achievement of justice for all in alignment with people-centered justice. (Available in Spanish and English).
This communications and advocacy tool provides clear, actionable recommendations to support the achievement of access to justice for all in alignment with people-centered justice.
This blog explores the modalities, benefits, and unique aspects of such regional alliances and their particular role in advancing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.3, focusing on the African Alliance for People-Centered Justice and the Ibero-American Alliance for Access to Justice, both hosted and founded by the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies.