High-Level Justice Leader's Dialogue Agenda

• Welcome remarks from the Director of Public Governance, OECD • Opening speech from the Minister of Justice of Türkiye (tbc) • Keynote intervention by Mark Fagan, Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School

This session will mark the launch of the OECD Report Justice as a Public Service: Delivering Better Outcomes, prepared in the context of the Justice Action Coalition. The report includes key findings on global progress, persistent delivery gaps and priorities for action, and will situate these within the framework of the OECD Recommendation on Access to Justice and People-Centred Justice Systems. The presentation will include findings on how countries are advancing implementation of the Recommendation in practice, including reforms to service delivery models, entry points, dispute resolution pathways and institutional coordination. It will highlight concrete examples of how governments are organising justice systems around user needs and capabilities, improving problem resolution and strengthening responsiveness.

This session will examine countries preferences to translate the OECD Recommendation on Access to Justice and People-Centred Justice Systems into practical reforms across its five pillars. It will consider how people-centred purpose and culture, service design and delivery, governance infrastructure, people’s empowerment, and participatory and evidence-based planning, monitoring and evaluation can be embedded across justice institutions and services. Drawing on country experiences and the OECD Implementation Toolkit, the discussion will highlight practical approaches to strengthening co-ordination, aligning mandates, improving accessibility and responsiveness, and using data and evidence to support implementation and continuous improvement.

This breakout session will discuss new evidence on the economic and social costs of justice problems, including the costs to people facing these problems, to third parties as well as the public costs. It will explore evidence, related to the common justice problems that people experience, the pathways they follow to obtain information, assistance and resolution, and the consequences when justice service delivery does not respond effectively. The discussion will also take a broader view of how unresolved justice problems, crime and insecurity can affect societies and economies. By linking evidence on costs and outcomes with prevention, early intervention and service delivery, it will explore how governments can identify effective and fiscally sustainable responses, allocate resources more strategically and improve societal and economic outcomes.

Please note there will be no interpretation during this session This breakout session will explore the rapidly evolving role of digital technologies, data and artificial intelligence in transforming justice service delivery and how these tools can be scaled beyond pilots. It will highlight emerging evidence and country practices on using technology to improve responsiveness, accessibility and outcomes, streamline processes across the justice journey, strengthen case management, triage and dispute resolution, and reduce administrative burdens so that justice professionals can focus on more complex work. The discussion will address the institutional, operational and governance conditions required for sustained transformation, including interoperable and high-quality data, redesigned workflows, workforce capabilities, clear accountability and meaningful human oversight. Particular attention will be given to responsiveness to people and businesses that increasingly use AI to inform or shape their communications with the justice system.

This breakout session will examine how the principles of people-centred justice can be applied by courts and judiciaries and strengthen their distinctive institutional role and fundamental values. It will consider how judicial systems, as providers of justice services, can improve accessibility, service quality and responsiveness by drawing on legal-needs evidence and user feedback, simplifying procedures and communication, stronger collaboration with other actors and services, strengthening digital and physical access, and adapting services to different groups. The discussion will explore how such reforms can be pursued to support judicial independence, neutrality, equality before the law and procedural fairness. Drawing on country experiences, the breakout session will consider how different judicial governance arrangements and institutional contexts shape the practical implementation of people-centred justice and support delivery of the judiciary’s core functions.

Please note there will be no interpretation during this session This breakout session will explore on how justice services can be tailored to the needs of specific groups. Women, children, persons with disabilities, people living in rural areas and displaced people face justice problems like everyone else, in addition to challenges that may be specific to their situation. A justice system that understands and is responsive to the specific needs of different groups is better equipped to deliver equitable outcomes, uphold the rule of law, and fulfil commitments to provide meaningful access to justice for all. Targeted approaches can strengthen both access to justice and public confidence in justice institutions. This breakout session will draw on good practice responses tailored to specific groups and gather insights from participants to inform specialised approaches to ensure equal access to justice.

Organiser: UNDP, in partnership with the OECD, national justice and legal aid institutions from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, UNHCR and regional partners Date: 23 October, 08:00 – 08:55 am Istanbul time Location: M Lounge, Lobby Level, Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, Çırağan Caddesi No. 28, 34349 Beşiktaş, İstanbul, Türkiye Description: This one-hour interactive side event will explore how people-centred justice approaches can improve access to legal aid for refugees and other displaced populations. Drawing on evidence and country experiences from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, including findings from the UNDP Justice Journeys in Displacement assessment and the Tbilisi Declaration on Access to State-Guaranteed Legal Aid For Forcibly Displaced, signed by mentioned countries, the discussion will examine persistent barriers, effective reforms and service innovations, and how regional commitments can be translated into sustainable institutional change and stronger international cooperation. All participants to the Roundtable are invited to attend. Online participation is available through the following link: Register to participate online.

This session will examine how justice services can be designed around the needs and capabilities of businesses, particularly SMEs, to reduce the legal, procedural and administrative friction they face and enable them to swiftly resolve justice problems that occur. It will consider how clearer, simpler and more proportionate procedures, tailored support and improved resolution pathways can lower the time, cost and uncertainty associated with complying with legal obligations, interacting with public institutions and resolving disputes. Drawing on country experiences, the discussion will highlight practical reforms that improve accessibility and outcomes for SMEs and enable businesses to operate, invest and grow within a more efficient and enabling business environment.

This session will focus on how justice systems can design end-to-end service pathways around people’s needs and desired outcomes rather than institutional structures. It will consider how stronger coordination across courts, legal aid, administrative bodies, mediation, social services and other actors can reduce failed referrals, repeated information requests, unclear responsibilities and other forms of fragmentation that make justice difficult to navigate. The discussion will also address how accessible entry points, meaningful channel choice, plain-language communication, appropriate assistance and participation can make justice pathways more responsive, particularly for people facing vulnerability, discrimination or complex and interrelated problems. By improving fairness, continuity, transparency and accountability across the complete justice journey, more seamless services can help strengthen trust in institutions, support effective problem resolution and contribute to social stability.

• Closing remarks from the OECD • Closing remarks from the Ministry of Justice of Türkiye

Organisers: Justice Data Observatory and the OECD Location: Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus, Cihannüma, Saray Cd. No. 5, Beşiktaş, Istanbul Description: Facilitated by the Justice Data Observatory, this workshop will bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, funders and users of justice data to explore how people-centred justice evidence can more effectively inform policy and practice. Participants will examine pathways from research to action and identify opportunities for more use-focused research design, data collection and partnerships. Registration: Register here For more information, please contact Elizabeth Mucha at emucha@abfn.org.