What are the OECD Global Roundtables on Equal Access to Justice?
The OECD Roundtables on Equal Access to Justice are a forum for mutual exchange of good practices and lessons learned, and allows policy-makers to share experiences on improving access to justice for all, including from the perspective of people and businesses. Through its activities, the Roundtables provide countries the opportunity to discuss their views on best practices and institutional set-ups on people-centred and effective dispute resolution, legal assistance, access to justice, and legal empowerment, share data and knowledge and undertake joint policy analysis.
While guided by the priorities of the OECD Member countries, the Roundtables also benefits from the work of an advisory research and partner community panel.
The Global Roundtable supports countries in:
- Monitoring and implementing the UN Sustainable Development Agenda on people-centric justice and to leave no one behind, including vulnerable groups
- Developing and delivering on the access to justice commitments as part of the Open Government Partnership to foster active citizenship and transparency
- Deepening the evidence base to make the business case for effective, responsive and accountable legal and justice services, by building on the OECD's work on multi-dimensional living standards and economic and social expertise
- Designing an effective system for resolving disputes, including alternative and online mechanisms to foster business development and attraction of investment
- Reducing administrative burden in accessing legal and justice-related services for business
The Roundtables and related work will:
- Inform strategic planning and decision‐making by policy-makers and providers of justice, legal assistance and dispute resolution channels
- Develop targeted measures to help increase public trust in justice institutions
- Enhance capability within legal and justice institutions through support in the identification, development and promotion of appropriate programmes to develop the expertise of staff and providing mutual support and sharing the experiences
- Identify and develop innovative approaches to delivery of legal assistance and service issues
- Support and strengthen both global and national level dialogue with key stakeholders (including business, communities, civil society, representatives of different communities)