United Nations People-Centred Justice Regional Conference: Achieving Just Societies

Start date: 11 November 2024 | Start time: 09:00 UTC +07:00
End date: 13 November 2024 | End time: 17:00 UTC +07:00

About the regional conference

The United Nations People-Centred Justice Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific will provide a platform for stakeholders to exchange insights, address challenges and explore innovative, data-driven and evidence-based approaches to enhancing equal and inclusive access to justice for all through people-centered methods, including in crisis-affected settings. This regional event is being hosted by the UN Development Programme Bangkok Regional Hub, Thailand Institute of Justice, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the UN Environment Programme Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in collaboration with the World Justice Project, International Development Law Organization and Court of Justice of Thailand.

The conference aspires to reinforce a collective regional commitment to upholding the rule of law, ensuring equal and inclusive access to justice, and protecting human rights, all of which are foundational to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in Agenda 2030.

To view the full agenda and register, visit the main conference website.

Plenary Session: Women and Justice

UN Women is leading a plenary session on day one – 11 November – entitled Women and Justice: Co-Designing Systems that Empower, from 13:45-15:30. This session will be in Conference Room 2 and livestreamed (link to be provided on this page).

Women’s access to justice has increasingly become a central issue in global discourse, including in Asia Pacific, where recent events have brought the issue into prominence. The region has witnessed a series of incidents that have highlighted the systemic failures of justice systems for women and sexual and gender minorities. From high-profile legal battles to widespread social movements demanding accountability and reform, these incidents have galvanized both public and government attention.

Access to justice is fundamental to achieving gender equality. However, women continue to face unique challenges in engaging with justice systems, including social, procedural, and institutional barriers. These obstacles are particularly acute for historically marginalized women who experience multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and are often excluded from accessing justice systems. Data shows that women are more likely than men to experience discrimination, legal exclusion, and inadequate legal support, significantly hindering their justice journeys.

This Plenary Session offers an opportunity for regional, and national voices to discuss how to operationalize gender-responsive and people-centered justice. By drawing on case studies, justice expertise, and the lived experiences of women navigating justice systems, we can collectively explore innovative approaches to improve women’s access to justice and transform systems to meet the needs of current and future generations of women, in all their diversity.

Participants

Details of all participants in the Women and Justice plenary session will be available here.

Moderator

• Ms Norul Mohamed Rashid, Regional Policy Advisor on Governance, Peace and Security for Asia and the Pacific, UN Women

A people-centered approach to justice aligns with the goals of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda, which ensures that women can meaningfully participate, lead, and benefit from justice processes. By linking justice with broader issues of peace and security, we not only address women's immediate legal needs but also support their long-term leadership and participation in society.

Follow the UN People-Centred Justice Regional Conference on social media: #PCJ2024.