A Proven Key to Long-Term Access to Justice and SDG 16 Implementation Introduction
In the wake of the SDG 16 High-Level Conference 2024 held in May, the global community has renewed its commitment to fostering peaceful, just, and inclusive societies as a cornerstone for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This pivotal event, co-organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), and the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations, brought together key stakeholders to assess progress on SDG 16 and its critical role as an enabler for all other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With both the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in July 2024 and the Summit of the Future in September now behind us, it is clear that progress on SDG 16—which emphasizes access to justice, the rule of law, and strong, accountable institutions—has taken center stage in the global effort to address the world’s most pressing challenges.
SDG 16 in Focus: Reflecting on 2024’s Milestones
At the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the commitment to creating societies that are free from fear, violence, and exclusion. As articulated in the preamble to the Agenda:
“We are determined to foster peaceful, just, and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence. There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development.”
SDG 16 focuses on building the foundations necessary for all other SDGs by promoting access to justice, fighting corruption, ensuring transparency, and supporting the development of effective institutions. The SDG 16 High-Level Conference 2024 was instrumental in reviewing the progress made toward these goals, identifying challenges, and sharing good practices that could accelerate the work ahead.
This year’s conference concluded that while progress has been made, particularly in the areas of legal reform and institutional accountability, there is much work left to do—especially in reaching the most marginalized communities. The outcomes of the event have shaped the subsequent discussions at the High-Level Political Forum and Summit of the Future, reinforcing SDG 16’s pivotal role in addressing intersecting global crises.
Microjustice: A Proven Model for Long-Term Justice
Amidst the discussions and debates surrounding SDG 16, Microjustice emerges as a key player in addressing long-term access to justice. Unlike conventional legal aid models, which often provide short-term fixes, Microjustice offers a comprehensive, sustainable approach to legal empowerment for the most vulnerable populations. This aligns directly with the global focus on long-term solutions to ensure peace and justice for all.
With its Legal Rights Program Microjustice has developed an innovative model that provides low-cost, scalable, and sustainable legal solutions to the challenges faced by underserved and marginalized populations . The Program’s Legal Rights Protection Barometer scans a country on the state of affairs related to SDG 16, which provides input on the other component of the Program: the digital Legal Aid Platform Microjustice addresses the root causes of exclusion and inequality helping vulnerable people in areas securing legal identity, protecting land rights, or ensuring access to social services.
Microjustice legal services are focused on the practicalities of everyday life. The aim is to ensure that basic legal needs are satisfied to help provide individuals with legal protection. In particular, Microjustice focuses on non-litigious civil and administrative legal matters that are fundamental for legal inclusion such as civil documents, and documents relating to: property and housing, income-generating activities, family law, and inheritance.
The main categories of legal issues that any person in the world needs to have solved to have its basic legal needs satisfied are:
- Civil documents: birth certificates and other documents relating to personal identity; this enables access to education, health services, social benefits, microfinance and voting;
- Documents and issues relating to property and housing: property registration, documents relating to property transfer and rental issues; this provides legal protection and access to loans; rental contracts
- Documents and issues relating to income-generating activities: setting up and running businesses, co-operatives and other legal entities, contracts and basic labour issues;
- Documents and issues relating to the 3 themes described above in family law and inheritance matters;
- Documents and issues relating to the specific geographic context, e.g. post-war/natural disasters, refugee crises, environmental issues and/or any legal issue a group faces in a particular context
By addressing these foundational legal needs, Microjustice empowers individuals to fully participate in society and access the opportunities they deserve. This comprehensive approach to justice helps to build resilient, inclusive societies, directly contributing to the long-term vision of SDG 16.
How Microjustice Aligns with the SDG 16 Conference Outcomes
The outcomes of the SDG 16 High-Level Conference 2024 and subsequent reviews at the HLPF and Summit of the Future have reinforced the importance of sustainable, inclusive approaches to justice. Microjustice has proven to be a critical partner in making this vision a reality, contributing significantly to key SDG 16 targets:
- Legal Identity for All
One of the major themes of the SDG 16 Conference was the importance of legal identity as a gateway to accessing a wide range of other rights and services. Without legal documents, individuals are excluded from education, healthcare, and even voting. Microjustice’s work in securing legal identity for those who lack documentation directly supports SDG 16’s target of providing legal identity for all by 2030.
In the Western Balkan, Bolivia, Peru, Argentine, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda Microjustice hundred thousands of individuals have gained the legal documentation necessary to participate fully in their societies, reducing their vulnerability and enhancing social cohesion.
- Securing Land Rights
The conference highlighted that land rights continue to be a major issue for marginalized communities, particularly in regions where land ownership laws are weak or poorly enforced. Land insecurity not only leads to conflict but also perpetuates poverty and exclusion.
Microjustice has been at the forefront of efforts to help communities formalize land ownership, thus reducing the risk of displacement and conflict. By securing land rights, individuals are able to safeguard their homes and livelihoods, fostering peace and stability in their communities.
- Ensuring Social and Economic Rights
Access to social and economic rights is another cornerstone of Microjustice’s work, directly supporting SDG 16’s goal of reducing inequality and ensuring that no one is left behind. Whether it’s legal assistance to secure healthcare, fair labor rights, or education, Microjustice plays a critical role in ensuring that marginalized communities can exercise their rights.
As discussed during the Summit of the Future, integrating legal services with social programs is a critical step in addressing the systemic barriers that prevent vulnerable populations from accessing basic services. Microjustice’s comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach aligns with this vision of inclusive, resilient development.
Looking Forward: Microjustice as a Model for Global Replication
With the Summit of the Future and High-Level Political Forum 2024 now concluded, there is a growing recognition of the need for scalable, long-term solutions that address the systemic barriers to justice. The outcomes of these global discussions underscore the vital role that organizations like Microjustice play in turning SDG 16 from a lofty goal into a lived reality for millions of people.
Microjustice’s model is ripe for replication across other regions and countries. As the international community moves forward, the lessons learned from Microjustice’s work should be incorporated into broader strategies for legal empowerment. By scaling up our work , we can accelerate progress on SDG 16 and ensure that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development truly leaves no one behind.
The SDG 16 High-Level Conference 2024 and subsequent global reviews have made it clear: long-term, sustainable access to justice is key to achieving the broader goals of the 2030 Agenda. Microjustice has demonstrated that legal empowerment is not just a short-term intervention but a foundation for lasting peace, inclusion, and development.
As the global community continues its efforts to implement SDG 16, the innovative and scalable approach of Microjustice offers a proven path forward. By addressing legal identity, land rights, and social and economic justice among other key fundamental rights, Microjustice helps create resilient communities where people can thrive. In doing so, it provides a roadmap for how to build peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, fulfilling the promise of the 2030 Agenda and ensuring that no one is left behind.
