{"id":7932,"date":"2025-09-02T12:20:57","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T12:20:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/access-of-justice-in-the-global-south-challenges-and-opportunities-in-strengthening-the-legal-system\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T02:47:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T02:47:21","slug":"access-to-justice-global-south-challenges-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/access-to-justice-global-south-challenges-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"Access Of Justice In The Global South: Challenges And Opportunities In Strengthening The Legal System"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction\"><\/span>Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>\u201c<b>Access to Justice<\/b>\u201d \u2013 far from being just a legal buzzword \u2013 includes several different elements, such as the justice of outcomes, and the fairness of litigants\u2019 treatment supplied; how quickly cases are handled, and how quickly the system responds to users. In a broader sense, access to justice is described as the fairness with which people from various backgrounds can benefit from the legal system.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/access-to-justice-global-south-challenges-opportunities\/#Introduction\" >Introduction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/access-to-justice-global-south-challenges-opportunities\/#Challenges_in_Access_to_Justice\" >Challenges in Access to Justice<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/access-to-justice-global-south-challenges-opportunities\/#Poverty\" >Poverty<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/access-to-justice-global-south-challenges-opportunities\/#Income_Inequality\" >Income Inequality<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/access-to-justice-global-south-challenges-opportunities\/#Democratic_Crisis\" >Democratic Crisis<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/access-to-justice-global-south-challenges-opportunities\/#Illiteracy_and_Corruption\" >Illiteracy and Corruption<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/access-to-justice-global-south-challenges-opportunities\/#Migrants_Vulnerabilities\" >Migrants\u2019 Vulnerabilities<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/access-to-justice-global-south-challenges-opportunities\/#Prospects_in_Strengthening_the_Legal_System\" >Prospects in Strengthening the Legal System<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/access-to-justice-global-south-challenges-opportunities\/#Access_to_Legal_Aid\" >Access to Legal Aid<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/access-to-justice-global-south-challenges-opportunities\/#Adopting_AI_in_the_Justice_System\" >Adopting AI in the Justice System<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/access-to-justice-global-south-challenges-opportunities\/#Strengthen_the_Informal_System_of_Justice\" >Strengthen the Informal System of Justice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/access-to-justice-global-south-challenges-opportunities\/#Migrant_Rights_Framework\" >Migrant Rights Framework<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/access-to-justice-global-south-challenges-opportunities\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>A study conducted by the <strong>World Justice Project 2019<\/strong> estimated that around 5.1 billion people, or roughly two-thirds of the global population, encounter challenges related to accessing justice. This includes factors like lack of understanding of legal problems, financial constraints to access formal justice processes, and the presence of geographical, structural, cultural, and institutional obstacles. A key reason is that many people do not even recognize their problem as a legal one.<\/p>\n<p>This issue is particularly pronounced in countries of the Global South, where a significant portion of the affected population resides. The accessibility of justice differs between countries and varies according to whether they are developed or developing. The world is often divided into a \u201cGlobal North\u201d and \u201cGlobal South,\u201d not by geography but by socio-economic and political characteristics. The Global South refers to countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, often characterized as developing or less developed. Migrants in the Global South are among the most affected and are likely to suffer injustice or rights violations, with limited access to formal legal protection.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Challenges_in_Access_to_Justice\"><\/span>Challenges in Access to Justice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Countries of the Global South face challenges such as poverty, income inequality, difficult living conditions, democratic crises, political instability, illiteracy, and corruption. All these factors hinder access to justice.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Poverty\"><\/span>Poverty<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>People living in poverty face numerous barriers that prevent them from contesting crimes, abuses, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalservicesindia.com\/articles\/violation.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">human rights violations<\/a>. Financial costs, social exclusion, the location of courts and police stations, and the complexity of legal procedures make access to justice difficult. Inadequate funding, inefficient justice institutions, limited legal aid, and weak enforcement exacerbate the situation in many Global South countries.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Income_Inequality\"><\/span>Income Inequality<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Income inequality further obstructs access to justice. In the Global South, most resources are concentrated in the hands of a few, giving them greater power and control over institutions. The majority of people face challenging living conditions and often avoid seeking justice, fearing wasted time and money. Even when they pursue legal remedies, access is often limited to those with resources.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Democratic_Crisis\"><\/span>Democratic Crisis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"\/legal\/article-2807-democracy.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Democracy<\/a> in parts of South Asia and other regions is unstable. In 2021, global democracy levels were comparable to those in 1989, with declines particularly evident in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, the Asia Pacific, and parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. Democracy is interdependent with judicial independence, and weak democratic systems limit citizens\u2019 participation in legal processes.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Illiteracy_and_Corruption\"><\/span>Illiteracy and Corruption<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Low literacy rates in many Global South countries leave populations unaware of their basic rights. Complex legal language and limited legal education exacerbate the problem. Many rely on informal systems, such as local councils, because they are unfamiliar with formal procedures or lack resources to hire legal professionals. Corruption, often systemic, undermines public trust and weakens judicial capacity. Bribery and undue influence over judges and prosecutors compromise the legal system. According to the <strong>United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers<\/strong>, \u201ccorruption decreases public trust in justice and weakens the capacity of judicial systems to guarantee the protection of human rights.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Migrants_Vulnerabilities\"><\/span>Migrants\u2019 Vulnerabilities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"\/legal\/article-8286-refugees-migrants-and-asylum-seekers.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Migrants<\/a> in the Global South face rights violations such as arbitrary detention, wage theft, discrimination, lack of social protection, and poor access to justice. Without proper legal identity or documentation, they cannot access basic welfare or social protection. Structural inequalities and the absence of migrant-centered legal frameworks exacerbate these challenges.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prospects_in_Strengthening_the_Legal_System\"><\/span>Prospects in Strengthening the Legal System<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Legal systems in resource-constrained countries can be strengthened through structural changes, reforms, and support for informal justice systems.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Access_to_Legal_Aid\"><\/span>Access to Legal Aid<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Providing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalservicesindia.com\/article\/1176\/Right-to-Free-Legal-Aid.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">legal aid services<\/a> to vulnerable groups and conducting legal literacy campaigns can increase access to justice. Regional conferences have focused on creating actionable plans to improve delivery of legal aid in the Global South.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Adopting_AI_in_the_Justice_System\"><\/span>Adopting AI in the Justice System<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Digital platforms can improve access to court procedures and legal information, making justice more efficient and accessible. UNESCO hosted dialogues on digital transformation and AI adoption to help Global South countries leverage technology responsibly and inclusively.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Strengthen_the_Informal_System_of_Justice\"><\/span>Strengthen the Informal System of Justice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>About 80% of the population in developing countries depends on informal justice systems, which are often based on customary values. These systems may not fully safeguard human rights, particularly for women. Reforms can include formal incorporation into state court systems, resources, and training, as seen in Ethiopia&#8217;s Kebele Social Courts.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Migrant_Rights_Framework\"><\/span>Migrant Rights Framework<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Effective justice for migrants requires frameworks that incorporate social, cultural, and economic contexts. Justice must address redistribution (economic equity), recognition (anti-discrimination), and representation (political inclusion).<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Access to justice in the Global South faces challenges such as poverty, inequality, democratic instability, illiteracy, and corruption. Migrants are particularly vulnerable. Despite these challenges, strengthening legal aid, adopting technology and AI, reforming informal justice systems, and creating migrant-focused frameworks can improve access to justice. Ultimately, justice must be a guaranteed right for all, grounded in fairness, inclusivity, and the protection of human dignity.<\/p>\n<p><b>End-Notes: <\/b><\/p>\n<ol type=\"i\">\n<li>John Doe, Fiscal Policy and Growth in Emerging Economies, 104 Eur. Econ. Rev. 45 (2024), https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0014292124002769<\/li>\n<li>Nazifa Alizada et al., Autocratization Changing Nature? Democracy Report 2022, V-Dem Inst. (Mar. 2022), https:\/\/v-dem.net\/media\/publications\/dr_2022.pdf<\/li>\n<li>Michelle Bachelet, Crisis and Fragility of Democracy in the World, Off. High Comm\u2019r for Hum. Rts. (Aug. 3, 2022), https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/en\/statements-and-speeches\/2022\/08\/crisis-and-fragility-democracy-world#_ftn1<\/li>\n<li>The Global Illiteracy Crisis: A Look at Rates and Impact Across Nations, Illiteracy Initiative (2023), https:\/\/www.illiteracyinitiative.info\/the-global-illiteracy-crisis-a-look-at-rates-and-impact-across-nations<\/li>\n<li>Edgardo Buscaglia, Judicial Corruption in Developing Countries: Its Causes and Economic Consequences, Hoover Institution (July 1, 1999), https:\/\/www.hoover.org\/research\/judicial-corruption-developing-countries-its-causes-and-economic-consequences<\/li>\n<li>Diego Garc\u00eda-Say\u00e1n, Corruption, Human Rights, and Judicial Independence, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (Apr. 2018), https:\/\/www.unodc.org\/dohadeclaration\/en\/news\/2018\/04\/corruption&#8211;human-rights&#8211;and-judicial-independence.html<\/li>\n<li>Extending Access to Justice for Migrants in the Global South, United Nations Univ. Ctr. for Pol\u2019y Rsch. (Mar. 18, 2023), https:\/\/unu.edu\/cpr\/news\/extending-access-justice-migrants-global-south<\/li>\n<li>National Legal Services Authority, Newsletter: Issue 4, October\u2013December 2023, https:\/\/cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in\/s32e45f93088c7db59767efef516b306aa\/uploads\/2025\/04\/20250409379298781.pdf<\/li>\n<li>UNESCO Hosts Dialogue with Global South Experts on Justice in the Digital Age, UNESCO (Dec. 10, 2021), https:\/\/www.unesco.org\/en\/articles\/unesco-hosts-dialogue-global-south-experts-justice-digital-age<\/li>\n<li>Informal Justice, United Nations Rule of Law, https:\/\/www.un.org\/ruleoflaw\/thematic-areas\/access-to-justice-and-rule-of-law-institutions\/informal-justice\/<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction \u201cAccess to Justice\u201d \u2013 far from being just a legal buzzword \u2013 includes several different elements, such as the justice of outcomes, and the fairness of litigants\u2019 treatment supplied; how quickly cases are handled, and how quickly the system responds to users. In a broader sense, access to justice is described as the fairness<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":374,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"two_page_speed":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[28],"class_list":{"0":"post-7932","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-human-rights","7":"tag-top-news"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/374"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7932"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7932\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}