Justice Matters conference
06 May 2026 – 08 May 2026
The Hague, the Netherlands and livestream
Separate registration forms for events on 6 and 8 May are available below.
About the conference
The world is sliding into deeper insecurity. For the twelfth time in sixteen years, global peace has declined, and in the past five years alone conflict levels have doubled. Today, fifty countries are gripped by extreme, high, or turbulent violence—from protracted wars and authoritarian crackdowns to spiralling crime and state collapse. This is not a passing crisis; it is a structural failure. At the heart of this failure lies a deficit of justice. While military responses, ceasefires, and disarmament negotiations dominate the global response to conflict, the absence of fair, accessible, and legitimate pathways for resolving grievances is often ignored. Yet instability is rarely born in a vacuum. It grows where people are excluded, abused, or ignored; where corruption replaces accountability; and where systems of law serve power, not people. Stability and justice are not separate policy goals; they are co-dependent conditions of peace.
This conference invites bold and honest conversation on what it means for stability to follow justice: making justice a frontline strategy in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, repivoting international development cooperation and diplomacy to prioritise access to justice, and respecting local mechanisms of dispute resolution. It asks difficult questions about justice in fragile and polarised contexts, and challenges the international community to confront whether it can claim to be building stability while turning a blind eye to injustice.
6 May: Day 1
6 May | 09:00 - 10:30
The Hague Humanity Hub | Fluwelen Burgwal 58, The Hague, The Netherlands
UNDP, Cordaid, and The Humanity Hub
People-centered justice as an early warning and prevention tool
Across the world, tensions and conflicts often begin with everyday problems that go unanswered—issues like disputes over land, housing, family matters, access to services, or discrimination. When these problems accumulate, they can erode trust and deepen social divides long before any violence becomes visible.
This interactive session explores how people‑centred justice—justice that is accessible, fair, and grounded in people’s daily realities—can help identify and address these early warning signs. By resolving everyday grievances early, justice systems can help prevent tensions from escalating and strengthen community resilience.
Although the examples will draw from conflict‑affected places such as the DRC, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, the discussion will also highlight why these lessons matter in more stable societies, including the Netherlands, where signs of mistrust, inequality, and polarisation are increasingly visible.
Speakers:
- Ms. Claudine Tsongo – Dynamique des femmes juristes, DRC
- Mr. Moncef Kartas – Head of UNDP’s Peace Support Facility, Ethiopia
- Jelle Postma – Executive Director, Justice for Prosperity (TBC)
6 May | 11:00 - 12:30
HiiL office | Van Bylandt Huis, Benoordenhoutseweg 46, The Hague, The Netherlands
Co-hosted by: Team Europe Democracy Network, HiiL and IDLO
Commercial Justice at the Intersection of Rule of Law, Investment, and Prosperity
This side event, organised by the Team Europe Democracy (TED) initiative in partnership with HiiL and IDLO alongside the Justice Matters Conference in The Hague, explores how commercial justice can strengthen business environments while contributing to inclusive growth. Bringing together policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and investment actors, the session examines how people-centred approaches to commercial justice can improve business environments while ensuring justice systems work for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), entrepreneurs, and communities.
Commercial justice is often discussed in technical terms such as contract enforcement, judicial efficiency, or investor confidence. Yet accessible and predictable dispute resolution is essential for businesses to operate, invest, and grow. Effective commercial justice reduces uncertainty, improves access to finance, supports productivity, and builds trust in markets. Weak systems, by contrast, increase risks, discourage investment, and limit economic opportunities.
The event is structured in two parts. The first panel highlights implementation experience and country examples, focusing on justice gaps and practical solutions such as alternative dispute resolution, simplified procedures, and legal empowerment. The second panel brings together development, trade, and investment actors to discuss how commercial justice supports sustainable investment, Global Gateway objectives, and inclusive economic growth.
By connecting justice and economic perspectives, the event aims to promote stronger integration of commercial justice into development cooperation and investment programming.
6 May | 14:00 - 15:30
Clingendael Institute | Clingendael 7, Wassenaar, The Netherlands
Organisers: International IDEA, Democratie Monitor, Conflict Research Unit (CRU) Clingendael
Fixing the Cracks in Democracy: Strengthening Democratic Resilience as a Pathway to Security
This event explores why democratic resilience is critical to modern security policy and how policymakers across government can move from identifying vulnerabilities to taking concrete action. Using the Netherlands as a reference point, the discussion will examine how negative trends such as declining trust, service delivery gaps, polarization, and exposure to manipulation are emerging even in well-established democracies, and how they impact the resilience of societies in times of crisis.
Bringing together senior policymakers, practitioners, and experts from the Netherlands and beyond, the event will combine national, global, and comparative perspectives from fragile and conflict affected settings to identify practical entry points for strengthening democratic resilience as a critical element of a robust and sustainable security agenda.
Speakers:
- Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General, International IDEA
- Bas Bijlsma, Director, Democratie Monitor
- More TBA
- Megan Price, Head, Conflict Research Unit, Clingendael Institute
6 May | 14:00 - 16:00
HiiL office | Van Bylandt Huis, Benoordenhoutseweg 46, The Hague
Organised by: The African Alliance for People-Centred Justice and the Ibero-American Alliance for Access to Justice | In partnership with: The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL), Pathfinders for Peaceful Just and Inclusive Societies - CIC-NYU, Red Internacional de Justicia Abierta (RIJA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
High-Level Judicial Dialogue: Building People-Centred Justice Across Africa and Iberoamerica
Convened as a side event to the Justice Matters 2026 conference, this high-level judicial dialogue brings together senior judges from Africa and Iberoamerica to explore how people-centred and open justice approaches can strengthen stability, trust, and access to justice. Organised by the African Alliance for People-Centred Justice and the Ibero-American Alliance for Access to Justice, in partnership with HiiL, Pathfinders, RIJA, and UNDP, the session creates a peer-to-peer space for judicial leadership and cross-regional learning.
Amid growing inequality, democratic backsliding, and declining trust in institutions, courts are increasingly called upon to address everyday justice problems that affect livelihoods, social cohesion, and economic participation. People-centred justice offers a practical framework for judiciaries to focus on resolving the disputes that matter most—such as family, land, employment, and small business conflicts—while improving accessibility, transparency, and fairness. Combined with open justice reforms, this approach can strengthen legitimacy, prevent conflict, and enhance institutional resilience.
The dialogue will feature judges sharing concrete experiences on using data to identify priority justice needs, advancing transparency and accountability, and integrating formal and informal dispute resolution pathways. Through cross-regional exchange, participants will examine scalable reforms and the role of judicial leadership in delivering timely, fair, and trusted justice.
The event aims to foster sustained collaboration across the African and Latin American and Caribbean regions, and contribute to a shared vision for people-centred justice as a cornerstone of stability, democratic governance, and inclusive development.
Speakers:
- Hon. Justice Diana Rachel Kavedza-Mochache, Justice of the High Court of Kenya
- Hon. Justice Mariela Ponce, Justice of the Supreme Court of Justice of Querétaro State, Mexico
- Hon. Justice Kate Ogunsanya, Justice of the High Court of Ogun State, Nigeria
- Hon. Justice Gerardo Rubén Alfaro, Justice of the Criminal Appeals Court and Director of Restorative Justice, Costa Rica
- Hon. Justice Jaceguara Dantas da Silva, National Council of Justice and Justice of the Court of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- More TBA
6 May | 17:30 - 19:00
Amare, Tribunetrap | Spuiplein 150, The Hague
The Hague Humanity Hub and HiiL
From Margins to Center: Women’s Justice in Fragile Times
In times of crisis, justice systems are often strained, and women disproportionately bear the consequences. From legal exclusion and insecurity to social stigma and economic dependency, fragile and conflict-affected contexts amplify barriers to justice for women. Yet these moments also present an opportunity: when women’s voices move from the margins to the center of decision-making, justice systems can become more inclusive, legitimate, and resilient.
Justice Matters 2026 opens with a high-level conversation placing women at the heart of justice reform. Hosted by the Humanity Hub and the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law, this inaugural panel brings together women leaders and justice champions to explore how lived experiences, agency, and leadership can shape more responsive justice systems during fragile times. Drawing on research and practical examples, the discussion will examine how women experience injustice, highlight gender-sensitive justice responses, and consider what it means for women to be co-creators rather than passive beneficiaries of reform.
At a time when the rule of law is under global pressure, centering women’s access to justice is not only a matter of equality but a foundation for sustainable peace and societal stability.
Speakers:
- Marielle Vavier, Deputy Mayor for Poverty, Inclusion, Public Health and International Affairs, The Hague
- Sara Hossain, Chair, Independent International Fact-finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran & Honorary Executive Director, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)
- Sanaa AlSarghali, Member, Drafting Committee on the Palestinian Interim Constitution & UNESCO Chair on Human Rights Democracy and Peace
Moderated by:
- Ijeoma Nwafor, Country Representative, Nigeria, HiiL
7 May: Day 2 | Plenary event
7 May | 09:30 - 17:00
Peace Palace | Carnegieplein 2, The Hague
Justice Matters: plenary event
On 7 May 2026, the Peace Palace in The Hague will host a high-level plenary dedicated to the urgent theme: “Justice First. Stability Follows“.
The program features a series of keynote addresses and deep-dive sessions designed to pivot justice from a post-conflict afterthought to a frontline strategy for prevention.
Programme
| Time | Programme Details | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:30 | Arrival Registration | - |
| 09:30 – 09:40 | Welcome Welcoming of guests and speakers + practical information | Razane Boustany, Justice Sector Advisor, HiiL |
| 09:40 – 10:10 | Opening HiiL and High-level speakers frame the conversation in the opening remarks. Framing question: How does justice lead to stability, and why should we be committed to ensuring stability through justice | Speaker 1: Udo Jude Ilo, CEO, HiiL Speaker 2: Pascalle Grotenhuis, Director-General for International Cooperation (DGIS), Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs Speaker 3: Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague |
| 10:10 – 10:30 | From the Heart of the Middle East: Ministerial Perspectives from Lebanon and Syria on the Role of Justice in Addressing Crises Amid rapid transformations and growing challenges in the Middle East, the Ministers of Justice of Syria and Lebanon share their perspectives on the current situation and highlight the role and needs of justice systems in responding to crises and enhancing stability. | Speaker: Mazhar al-Wais, Minister of Justice, Syria Speaker: Adel Nassar, Minister of Justice, Lebanon |
| 10:30 - 11:00 | Tea Break + Networking Refreshments and informal exchange. | – |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | Session 1: The Problem A deep dive into the nexus of stability and justice and starts from the current state of conflict, tension, great power conflicts and the inertia of the security council and various regional bodies. How has this developed and what outlook for the near future do we see? How have justice systems responded to rising conflicts, what general observations can we make about the role justice systems play in stability and security at the regional, national and global level? | Moderator: Alejandro Ponce, Executive Director, World Justice Project Panelist 1: Koen Davidse, Director General Policy, Netherlands Ministry of Defence Panelist 2: Sara Hossain, Chair, Independent Fact-finding Mission on Iran Panelist 3: Alpha Sesay, Minister of Justice of Sierra Leone Panelist 4: Alexandra Sandoval Mantilla, Judge of the Chamber of Amnesties and Pardons, Special Jurisdiction for Peace in Colombia |
| 12:00 – 12:15 | Keynote 1: The important role of justice and rule of law in addressing regional instability and conflicts. | Justice Albie Sachs, former judge of the First Constitutional Court of South Africa |
| 12:15 - 12:30 | Launch Policy brief launch: Why Strengthening Rule of Law Must be Africa's Priority | Ben Crumpton, Researcher - Mo Ibrahim Foundation Zainab Malik, Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor - HiiL |
| 12:30 – 13:45 | Lunch + Networking Break for food and informal networking. | - |
| 13:45 – 14:45 | Session 2: Practical examples In four Ted-talk style presentations, we showcase concrete and distinct examples where justice mechanisms contribute to stability. This session aims to make a convincing case for the applicability of justice delivery for sustaining stability in diverse situations. | Moderator: Fernando Marani, Program Director, Justice, Inclusion, and Equality, Pathfinders Speaker 1: Aimee Ongeso, Program Manager, Open Society - Africa Speaker 2: Moncef Kartas, Head of the Peace Support Facility (PSF) in Ethiopia, UNDP Speaker 3: Claudine Tsongo Mbalamya, co-founder/coordinator of Dynamique des Femmes Juristes (DFJ) in eastern DRC Speaker 4: Adam-Shirwa Jama, Country Director, Kenya and Somalia, IDLO |
| 14:45 – 15:00 | Keynote 2: “When rule of law functions well, it provides a sense of stability and security; when it breaks down, “we are painfully reminded of its vital importance and fragility” | Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General, United Nations |
| 15:00 – 15:30 | Tea Break + Networking Refreshments and informal exchange. | – |
| 15:30 – 16:30 | Session 3: Political buy-in & resources Leveraging justice systems for stability requires constant political buy-in from various sides and sufficient resources. What is needed to successfully make the argument that stability can be realised through justice? Who needs to be convinced and mobilised, and, once the logic has landed, how can sufficient resources be mobilised sustainably, and how can the business case for those resources be made and maintained? | Moderator: Sam Muller, Partner, Justice Compass Advisors Panelist 1: James Goldston, Executive Director, Open Society Justice Initiative Panelist 2: Marielle Vavier, Deputy Mayor, The Hague Panelist 3: Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary General, International IDEA Panelist 4: Martin Hoppe, Head of Division, Federal Ministry for Development and Cooperation (BMZ) |
| 16:30 – 16:50 | Closing Now that we have heard everything, how do we move on? What do participants need to take with them? | Maaike de Langen, Senior Policy Advisor, OECD Nader Nadery, Senior Fellow, Peacebuilding and Global Justice, HiiL |
| 16:50– 17:00 | Vote of thanks | Shekhar Pula, COO, HiiL |
| 17:00 – 19:00 | Networking Drinks Informal end to the day with drinks and continued discussion. | – |
8 May: Day 3
8 May | 10:00 - 12:30
HiiL office | Van Bylandt Huis, Benoordenhoutseweg 46, The Hague, The Netherlands
Organised by: GIZ | In partnership with: HiiL, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and United Nations Office of Drug and Crime (UNODC)
AI for Fair and People-Centred Justice Systems
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly entering justice systems, offering new opportunities to improve access, efficiency, and responsiveness. At the same time, AI raises critical questions around fairness, bias, transparency, privacy, and accountability—especially in contexts where justice systems face resource constraints and institutional pressure. This interactive side event explores how AI can be designed, deployed, and governed to strengthen people-centred justice while safeguarding the rule of law.
Organised by GIZ in partnership with HiiL, OECD, and UNODC, the session shifts the conversation from whether to use AI in justice to how AI-powered services can responsibly move from prototype to scale. Participants will examine the potential and the risks of shared, open, and responsible AI infrastructure to support governments, justice institutions, and civil society in building scalable justice solutions.
Through a scenario-based board game “From Prototype to Scale-Up” , participants will work in small teams to navigate real-world challenges related to governance, ethics, financing, and institutional uptake. The session will generate practical insights on mitigating risks, strengthening trust, and ensuring AI adoption enhances due process and democratic governance. By the end, participants will share concrete lessons for scaling AI-powered justice responsibly and collaboratively.
8 May | 14:00 - 15:30
HiiL office | Van Bylandt Huis, Benoordenhoutseweg 46, The Hague, The Netherlands
Organised by: UNODC - Accelerating Justice Team | In partnership with: UN Office of the Victims' Rights Advocate (OVRA) and Victim Support Europe (VSE)
A Collective Action to Ensure Victim-Centered and Trauma-Informed Access to Justice for All Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power
This side event will explore strategies and approaches to ensure meaningful access to justice for victims of crime and abuse of power, in both criminal justice and transitional justice contexts. Despite the existence of legal frameworks recognizing victims’ rights, many continue to face procedural, social, and institutional barriers that hinder their access to justice, protection, and support, which risks undermining trust in institutions and the upholding of the rule of law.
The event will present international and regional legal and policy developments that place victims at the centre of processes for accountability and remedy. The session will explore how approaches adopted in the implementation of international human rights law, international humanitarian law, international criminal law, UN conventions on crime, and UN standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice, as well as regional frameworks, can cross-fertilize to advance justice for all victims of crime, abuse of power, and human rights violations, while reinforcing people-centred justice systems.
It will also examine how criminal justice and transitional justice systems, in cooperation with victim support providers, can enhance victims’ access to protection, support and assistance, compensation, and reparation, while promoting fairness, accountability, and inclusivity. The event will also showcase examples of multi-stakeholder collaboration, including partnerships in which States, civil society, and international organizations work together to implement approaches that respond to both the immediate and long-term needs of victims and contribute to preventing cycles of violence and instability.
8 May | 14:00 - 15:30
IDLO Branch Office | Hofweg 9E, 2511AA, The Hague, The Netherlands
Organised by: UN Women and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO)
From Legal Equality to Justice for Women and Girls
Women and girls around the world continue to face persistent legal, institutional, and practical barriers that limit their ability to claim and exercise their rights. Discriminatory laws remain in force in many countries, while gaps in implementation, access to legal aid, and representation within justice institutions undermine legal protections in practice. Legal equality, while essential, does not automatically translate into justice.
This side event explores how justice systems can move from formal legal equality to meaningful, lived justice for women and girls. Organised by UN Women and IDLO, the event will bring together perspectives from governments, international organizations, civil society, and justice sector practitioners to highlight practical pathways for reform. The discussion will focus on coordinated approaches to removing discriminatory laws, strengthening gender-responsive justice services, advancing women’s leadership and participation in justice institutions, and mobilising sustainable financing to support long-term change.
The session will feature opening reflections followed by a moderated panel discussion and exchange with participants. It aims to generate actionable insights on how people-centred, gender-responsive justice systems can uphold rights, promote equality, and strengthen the rule of law in diverse contexts.
The event partners and supporters:
