Access to JusticeDrawing on data collected from public survey polls on how people around the world interact with their countries’ legal systems, Global Insights on Access to Justice is the first-ever effort to capture comparable data on legal needs and public access to civil justice on a global scale. Find the full report here.

Featuring the experiences of more than 46,000 people in 45 countries, the report highlights the mostly commonly experienced legal conflicts in each country, respondents’ ability to successfully address legal problems and assistance if needed, their satisfaction with the conflict resolution process, and more.

The data presented in this report are drawn from the dispute resolution module of the WJP’s General Population Poll (GPP). This year, the module was administered in 45 countries and jurisdictions during the fall of 2017 using a probability sample of 1,000 respondents in the three largest cities of each country. The data is displayed in profiles that show the individual results for each of the countries where the study was administered. These profiles include information on the following: the results on the type of legal problems experienced; the occurrence of violence as a result of the conflict; whether or not respondents chose to take action or seek help to manage a conflict; if the problem has been resolved or not; and if hardships that resulted for the respondents during the course of managing the issue. 

The results demonstrated that people in all countries experience legal problems, regardless of their socio-economic status and gender. What’s more, many people’s approach to resolving their legal issues does not involve lawyers and courts, with most respondents surveyed preferring to seek help from a family member or friend or to work out the problem directly with the other party. The study also revealed that, across countries, many people’s legal problems remain unresolved, either because they could not fully settle the issue or because they ultimately give up or move away. Nearly half of those surveyed (47%) reporting that their legal problem led to a stress-related illness, loss of employment, or the need to relocate.
 

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Strengthening Equal Rights and Non-Discrimination at the World Justice Forum 2022 and Beyond

In recent years equal rights and non-discrimination protections have weakened, putting at-risk groups in danger of further erasure and marginalization. The 2022 WJP Rule of Law Index points to a rise in discrimination during the pandemic, with 70% of countries and jurisdictions having declined in equal treatment and absence of discrimination. Vulnerable groups already exposed to systemic inequality—such as the LGBTQI+ community, children with disabilities, women, and ethnic and racial minorities—were further marginalized during the crisis, and continue to be left out of solutions to “build back better.” At the World Justice Forum 2022, equal rights leaders, activists, and academics came together to discuss the increasing challenges these groups face, as well as promising solutions to address them.

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How Data Drives Justice Around the World: Hear from Leaders Who Use the WJP Rule of Law Index

Every year, the WJP Rule of Law Index takes a detailed look at adherence to rule of law principles around the world. This year’s Index covers 140 countries and jurisdictions and contains data on eight factors that make up the rule of law, including fundamental rights, absence of corruption, and criminal justice.   Insights from the 2022 WJP Rule of Law Index show that adherence to rule of law fell in 61% of countries this year. Globally, this means that 4.4 billion people live in countries where rule of law has declined over the past year.   Rule of law impacts our rights, our safety, our well-being, and our access to justice. The WJP Rule of Law Index provides original data annually on people’s experiences with and perceptions of rule of law in 140 countries and jurisdictions around the world, making the Index a valuable resource for policymakers, business leaders, and advocates. 

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WJP Rule of Law Index 2022 Global Press Release

WASHINGTON (Oct. 26, 2022) – For the fifth year in a row, the rule of law has declined globally, according to the 2022 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index®. The World Justice Project’s analysis of in-depth survey data in 140 countries and jurisdictions shows that adherence to the rule of law fell in 61% of countries this year.

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