The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution last year entitled “Equal access to justice for all” requesting the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) “convene a meeting of experts, nominated by Member States, to share information on challenges, lessons learned, best practices and enabling factors needed to enhance the functioning of criminal justice systems to ensure equal access to justice for all.”
It is anticipated that this expert meeting will occur in the last quarter of 2024. As an ECOSOC affiliated NGO, ASC can submit inputs by 1 September 2024. These inputs must be short (max. 550 words), but we can include links or summaries of relevant research, reports, and work in this area that has international implications.
These contributions will be integrated into a background paper to guide the discussions at the meeting of experts in late 2024, as well as into the report which will be presented to the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in 2025.
In sum, this is an opportunity for civil society to provide input into a UN initiative focusing on improving access to justice globally. Please forward this invitation to those whose expertise might be relevant, noting the tight deadline.