Access to Justice Alliance: combating injustice and poverty by improving access to justice

Access to justice is an essential precondition for sustainable development and poverty relief. For this reason four Dutch organisations working on human rights and the rule of law will combine their strengths from 2010. By cooperating in the Access to Justice Alliance the organisations (Aim for human rights, CILC (Center for International Legal Cooperation), Justitia et Pax Netherlands and the Dutch Helsinki Committee, NHC) expect to become more effective in three areas: economic justice, social justice and transitional justice. The focus of the cooperation is on marginalised and women.

Around the world four billion persons face poverty and injustice. Sustainable development is only possible when their human rights are implemented and when judicial systems protect vulnerable groups. The Access to Justice Alliance will help NGOs in the South and in Europe to more effectively promote human rights and the rule of law.

Martha Meijer, director of Aim for human rights, sees the integrated approach of the Alliance as an important plus. The cooperation is aimed at strengthening non-governmental organisations in the South, but it will do more. “Alongside our cooperation with NGOs we also want to involve governments and businesses. We will assist governments to adjust policies and laws, so that safety and social and economic rights are guaranteed for their citizens. In addition, we stimulate companies to implement compliance to human rights in the business cycle.” Together with partner organisations across the world, the Access to Justice Alliance will develop worldwide applicable methods to analyse the activities of companies and governments as well as lobby for improvement.

The four organisations in the Access to Justice Alliance are complementary in terms of working methods. Aim for human rights is active in capacity building, development of impact assessment methods and lobby. CILC works to develop the rule of law by means of training the judicial sector, academic exchange and legislative programmes. Justitia et Pax Nederland is the catholic organisation for justice and peace. NHC works to build and develop human rights organisations and the judicial sector. Together the organisations combine many years of experience and elaborate networks with partners in the South.

This month the Access to Justice Alliance applied for a multi-year subsidy from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.