World Justice Challenge 2019: Access to Justice Solutions
In 2019, the World Justice Project organized the World Justice Challenge around the theme of Access to Justice Solutions. The objective was to identify and promote good practices and successful solutions that would help narrow the justice gap for everyday legal problems. WJP received over 250 applications and selected 30 finalists to present their projects at the World Justice Forum 2019, which took place from April 29 to May 3, 2019 in The Hague, Netherlands.
World Justice Challenge 2019 Winners
The 30 finalists presented their projects in the World Justice Forum's Expo Village and during featured presentations to Forum participants. The judges selected five winners.
To mark the one-year anniversary of the 2019 World Justice Challenge winners announcement, WJP caught up with each winning project to learn how their work has progressed, challenges faced, and how the World Justice Challenge award has supported their work. Explore the project updates:
160 Girls Access to Justice Project
The Equality Effect, Kenya
Nearly two-thirds of Kenyan girls experience sexual assault. In 2013 the Kenyan High Court found that police failure to enforce existing rape law had created a climate of impunity. This project is working to change this culture through police trainings, education, and creative legal advocacy projects.
Partnering for Native Health
Alaska Legal Services Corporation, United States
Indigenous populations throughout the United States experience some of the greatest health inequalities. This project is the first US collaboration delivering health-impacting civil legal assistance to a target population of economically vulnerable indigenous individuals, specifically targeting remote and rural areas. PNH addresses indigenous peoples social determinants of health by using legal empowerment and education as a tool to improve the health and safety of tribal members, and establishing culturally appropriate locally based networks of civil legal attorneys embedded in the tribal health care delivery system.
Listen to WJP's Rule of Law Talk podcast episode featuring the Partnering for Native Health project: "Indigenous Communities and COVID-19: Local Challenges and Resilient Strategies for Building Back Better."
Malawi Resentencing Project
Cornell Centre on the Death Penalty Worldwide, The Malawi Legal Aid Bureau, and Reprieve; Malawi
In 2007, the Malawi High Court struck down the mandatory death penalty on the grounds that it violated the accused's constitutional rights to a fair trial and access to justice. This project was established in 2014 by a coalition of stakeholders to secure and support new sentence hearings that adhered to international fair trial standards.
Riverine People and the Right to Full Reparation
Instituto Socioambiental - ISA, Brazil
In 2015, 300 families who lived on the islands and banks of the Xingu River, state of Pará, Brazil, were forcibly displaced from their homes to make way for the reservoir of Belo Monte hydroelectric power plant. This project, through strategic advocacy and a broad negotiation with the Brazilian government and the corporation, was able to influence the elaboration and implementation of an adequate reparation policy for traditional populations impacted by large infrastructure projects.
Monitoring Maternal Health Entitlements & Increasing Access to Grievance Redressal
Nazdeek, India
The State of Assam experiences the highest maternal mortality rate in India. Health concerns are compounded on tea plantations where workers face substandard working conditions that negatively impact their health. This project developed grievance forums to identify and monitor rights violations, provide a mechanism for communities and the legal/administrative systems to discuss issues and concerns, and ultimately assist women in seeking redressal for their maternal and child health problems.
World Justice Challenge 2019 Finalists
The 2019 World Justice Challenge received a wide range of applications highlighting projects tackling the justice gap from nongovernmental, governmental, and civil society organizations. The five winning World Justice Challenge projects—selected out of 30 finalists and over 250 submissions—represent a small portion of some of the best work being done globally to increase access to justice. Browse all finalists:
Impacts of Environment and Justice for All
Asian Development Bank & Asian Judges Network on Environment (AJNE) | Philippines
Peace and Justice Project
Association for a More Just Society | Honduras
Reducing the Gender Gap and Fighting for Social Protection in Mexican Laws
Centro de Análisis y Defensa de Derechos (CADD) | Mexico
Tackling Illegal Fishing and Human Trafficking in the Thai Fishing Industry
Environmental Justice Foundation | Thailand
Riverine People and the Right to Full Reparation
Instituto Socioambiental - ISA | Brazil
M-Haki-Haki Mkononi
Red Hook Community Justice Center
Red Hook Community Justice Center/Center for Court Innovation | United States
Malawi Resentencing Project
Cornell Centre on the Death Penalty Worldwide, The Malawi Legal Aid Bureau, and Reprieve | Malawi
Enhancing Coordination Among Stakeholders for Effective Prosecution of Sex Trafficking Crimes in Nagpur Maharasthtra
Save the Children India | India
E-lawyering: Criminal Justice and Accountability through Mobile Technology
The Asia Foundation, Philippines | Philippines
160 Girls Access to Justice Project
The Equality Effect | Kenya
Apprise: Proactive and Consistent Screening of Vulnerable Populations for Labour Exploitation
The Mekong Club & United Nations University - Institute on Computing and Society | Hong Kong
Transnational Environmental Accountability Project
University of Maryland Carey School of Law | United States
YouthLab: Championing the Voice of Youth Deprived of their Liberty
Young in Prison | Netherlands
World Justice Challenge 2019 Honorable Mentions
The World Justice Project was also pleased to recognize the following ten projects as 2019 World Justice Challenge honorable mentions. These projects were invited to present their work in the World Justice Forum Expo alongside finalist projects:
- The Radical Approach in Liberia, ClientEarth in association with Heritage, Partners and Associates, Inc., Liberia
- Gender Mobile Initiative, Gender Mobile, Nigeria
- Virtual Reality Legal Training, Harvard Law School: Access to Justice Lab, United States
- Citizenship Rights and Access to Justice For All, Nubian Rights Forum, Kenya
- Provakil, PVKL Tech Services Private Limited, India
- Health Care Model for Women and Children in Prison, Reinserta Un Mexicano A.C., Mexico
- Arizona Eviction Help, Stanford Legal Design Lab, United States
- Game App "Gebnya," Team 29, Russia
- Fair Trial Project, The Cambodian Center for Human Rights, Cambodia
- Court Compass, The Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS), United States
To see more practical programs, please visit the WJP Program Library, which catalogs on-the-ground rule of law solutions the WJP has inspired and fostered through early-stage funding and network connections in 61 countries to date.
The 2019 World Justice Challenge competition was made possible through sponsorship by the WJP's League of Law Firms and Law Departments.