Access to Justice

In its Article 13, the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) requires that States Parties ensure effective access to justice for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others. Meanwhile, courts and justice systems worldwide are undergoing digital transformation and becoming “smarter”.

While these technology investments can help courts and justice systems cut costs and increase efficiencies, it is not clear that their technology roadmaps include a commitment to ensuring access to justice by people with disabilities. The courts need help learning how to ensure they implement digital technology in a way that makes courts more accessible and inclusive Without this commitment, justice systems currently risk leaving people with disabilities behind and creating new obstacles to participation due to a lack of awareness about disability and a lack of knowledge about accessible technology..

G3ict believes it can help courts and justice systems continue to chart a path toward greater progress on Article 13 of the UN CRPD. We recommend that courts as well as technology companies and civil society organizations look to G3ict’s eight interrelated strategies for leveraging technology to support greater access to justice for persons with disabilities, including:

• Amending existing legal frameworks to promote equality in courts and justice system,
• Training leaders and staff in courts and justice systems to better design and implement ICT accessibility strategies that support digital inclusion,
• Using their “power of the purse” to advance equality by purchasing only accessible courtroom technology,
• Involving persons with disabilities at each step in the process to improve access to justice.

G3ict materials can help courts and the technology industry make progress toward greater access to justice for the 1 billion persons with disabilities worldwide.

Resources on G3ict's Access to Justice Global Initiative

• In June 2020, G3ict published an 'Inclusive Courts Checklist' that outlines 10 core capabilities that courts should develop to support a digital transformation that is accessible and inclusive. It further provides 36 specific steps, or enabling activities, for developing these 10 core digital capabilities of inclusive courts. Available in Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish.
• Read the blog by James Thurston on the access to justice survey (January 2020) with the International Association of Court Administrators (IACA) and latest blog on the Inclusive Courts Checklist (June 2020).
• As part of its global initiative, in September-December 2019, G3ict partnered with International Association of Court Administrators (IACA) to survey its members as well as other specialists working in or with courts about technology and access to justice.
• The “Procurement of ICTs for Inclusive Government and Public Sector: Guide for Engaging ICT Vendors” published in 2019 aims to help government and public sector agencies at all levels integrate accessible information and communication technologies (ICT) into their policies and practices. The goal is to ensure government and public sector agencies are well equipped to move toward a stronger commitment to making accessibility a part of their ICT procurement. Available in Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish.
• The G3ict paper 'Leveraging Technology for Greater Access to Justice,' submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2018, recommends eight interrelated strategies to help courts and justice systems leverage technology to support greater access to justice for persons with disabilities. Available in Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish.
• The G3ict report 'Technology and Effective Access to Justice' calls for greater access to justice for persons with disabilities worldwide.
• Watch the Technology and Equal Access to Justice for Persons with Disabilities Side Event co-hosted by G3ict-International Disability Alliance (IDA) on December 3, 2020. Visit the United Nations Social Development Network (UNSDN) website for more insights into the side event.