Access to justice

Access to justice, which entails the capacity for individuals to seek and obtain a remedy through formal or informal justice systems, is a cornerstone of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, which focuses on Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. This goal, particularly target 16.3, advocates for the promotion of the rule of law at both national and international levels, emphasizing the need for equal access to justice for all individuals. This principle is not only foundational in its own right but also intersects significantly with other SDGs, highlighting the interconnected nature of these goals.

SDG 16's emphasis on access to justice is critical in ensuring fairness and legal protection for all, particularly the most vulnerable. It calls for the establishment and strengthening of institutions at all levels to deliver justice effectively, transparently, and without undue delay. This is fundamental in maintaining social order and preventing conflicts, thereby contributing to the achievement of peace and stability as outlined in SDG 16.

Moreover, access to justice is essential in enforcing rights under SDG 5, which focuses on Gender Equality. It plays a crucial role in addressing issues like gender-based violence, discrimination, and unequal power dynamics. By ensuring that women and girls have equal access to legal protection and recourse, societies can move closer to achieving gender parity and empowering all individuals regardless of their gender.

In the context of SDG 10, which aims at reducing inequalities, access to justice is vital for protecting marginalized and disadvantaged communities. These groups often face systemic barriers in accessing legal systems, which can perpetuate poverty and inequality. By ensuring that these communities have the means to seek legal redress, societies can address these structural issues and work towards more equitable outcomes.

Furthermore, access to justice is integral to upholding labor rights as outlined in SDG 8. This includes ensuring fair treatment in the workplace, protecting workers' rights, and providing avenues for redress in cases of labor violations. In a globalized world, this is especially important for migrant workers and those in precarious employment, who often lack the resources or knowledge to navigate legal systems.

Environmental protection, covered under SDGs 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water), and 15 (Life on Land), also relies heavily on access to justice. Effective environmental laws and policies are only as strong as their enforcement mechanisms. Communities and individuals must have the ability to hold corporations and governments accountable for environmental harm. This ensures the protection of ecosystems, biodiversity, and the health of our planet, which is essential for sustainable development.

Access to justice is a fundamental component of the SDGs. It ensures that legal systems are equitable, responsive, and accessible to all, thus playing a critical role in achieving various aspects of sustainable development. Whether it's in the context of gender equality, reducing inequalities, labor rights, or environmental protection, access to justice serves as a key driver in realizing these ambitious goals. Therefore, strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing institutional capacities, and ensuring inclusivity in justice systems are imperative for the overall achievement of the SDGs.

In this webinar, panelists explore the “state of the union” of the Rule of Law in the UK and consider what can be done to drive public attention and protection. They also discuss whether the Law requires a rebrand, whether it is seen in the same light by all people, and what (or who) might drive the change sought. This webinar contributes to SDG 16.
In this episode of the “World We Want” podcast series, RELX’s Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, Dr. Márcia Balisciano, talks to Tessy Antony de Nassau about leadership.
Elsevier,

International Encyclopedia of Transportation, 2021, Pages 190-194

This chapter supports SDG 16 by providing an overview of the specificities of humanitarian transportation and logistics.
Analysis of the injustice perpetuated by ExxonMobil.
This chapter supports SDGs 3, 16 by exploring the challenges confronting internally displaced persons and refugee children.
A Commentary on the Healthy People 2030 roadmap, in the context of SDGs 3 and 10, focusing specifically on the potential of this initiative in addressing upstream determinants of health to achieve health equity across the USA.
Objective: To explore and describe norms concerning maternity, femininity and cisgender in lesbian and bisexual women and transgender people (LBT) assigned female at birth, with an expressed fear of childbirth (FOC). Design: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with self-identified LBT people with an expressed FOC. Participants: 17 self-identified LBT people participated. 15 had an expressed FOC, and two were non-afraid partners. Findings: Participants described how their FOC was related to ideals of “the primal woman”, including ideals of a natural birth.
Background: Compared to cisgender peers, transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people experience significant health disparities associated with discrimination and limited access to appropriate care in healthcare settings. Nurses represent the largest segment of the United States (US) healthcare workforce; however, US nursing programs only dedicate approximately 2.12 h to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and TGD (LGBT)-related content.
Discusses the modern slavery–environmental degradation–climate change nexus.
Proposes pathways towards a sustainable and JUST future.

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