More than 5 billion people worldwide are caught in a massive justice gap, according to WJP research. In 2023, we continue to drive the movement for people-centered justice forward.

Global Leaders Embrace People-Centered Justice to Rebuild Trust

At the second Summit for Democracy, USAID announced the agency will change the way rule of law development assistance has been implemented for decades with a new, people-centered rule of law policy. The policy reflects the agency’s recognition that meeting people’s justice needs is fundamental to advancing health, education, and economic opportunity.

WJP has been at the forefront of the people-centered justice movement for years, gathering data that shows how justice institutions are failing to meet people’s everyday justice needs. Now, in addition to the new USAID policy, a coalition of countries and civil society organizations has adopted a joint statement and call to action to advance policies that put people and their justice needs and legal problems at the center of justice systems.

WJP Equips Local Mexican Police to Investigate Crime for the First Time

In Mexico, particularly in lower-income states like Oaxaca, police act more as first responders than as criminal investigators. As a result, valuable criminal evidence is often lost, contributing to an impunity crisis. WJP has built bridges between prosecutors, judges, and police in Oaxaca to transform criminal investigations and reduce impunity.

WJP Rule of Law Index in Action

The 2022 WJP Rule of Law Index continues to expand its reach and impact. Last month, former British foreign secretary David Miliband and leading political risk organizations drew broadly on the 2022 WJP Rule of Law Index in the development of a new global Atlas of Impunity. At the World Government Summit in the United Arab Emirates, Georgia’s prime minister cited his country’s Index rankings when telling other leaders that rule of law is a central part of his nation’s development strategy. Separately, the prime minister of Kosovo, which is striving to join the European Union, cited Kosovo’s Index performance as a proof point of its successful efforts to build the rule of law.

Data collection for the 2023 WJP Rule of Law Index is already under way, including in two new countries, Kuwait and Montenegro, bringing the Index coverage to 142 countries.

Building Community to Advance Local Justice Solutions

WJP continues to deliver on its goal to advance locally led rule of law solutions. We recently convened the World Justice Challenge Network around high-impact grassroots efforts to build people-centered justice. Legal aid and empowerment program representatives from Cambodia, Colombia, and Kenya shared lessons learned and discussed challenges with our global network of Challenge alumni.

Will you help us continue to grow our impact?