Small States and Access to Justice

Event Details

The British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL), Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale  and Dorr LLP, and the Institute of Small and Micro States (ISMS) are delighted to invite you to an all-day event on small states and access to justice. The conference is the eighth in our series of conferences on issues relating to small states.

In the face of a global access to justice crisis, as highlighted by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite, small states face a distinct set of challenges. These challenges are exacerbated by pressing issues such as the climate crisis and the resulting climate-related displacement. Additionally, the rapid advancement of digital technologies has both created new opportunities and posed new obstacles to access justice in these states. 

Furthermore, the influence of individuals and entities with economic advantages attempting to sway the judiciary, combined with systemic inequalities and discrimination, compound the difficulties small states encounter in upholding the rule of law and achieving the objectives outlined in SDG 16.

In addressing these complex challenges, small states must engage in a thoughtful reimagination of their approach to access to justice, one that takes into account their unique circumstances and leverages innovative solutions to ensure that all citizens can access legal remedies and protections.

The eighth small states conference will discuss a range of topics, including climate change, AI and Technology, and sustainable development as they relate to access to justice and small states.

Join in the conversation @BIICL #SmallStates

Speakers include:

• Justice Oagile Dingake, Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea
• His Excellency Mr Jitoko Tikolevu, High Commissioner of Fiji, London
• Rajesh Ramloll, S.C., Solicitor-General of Mauritius
• Helen Churchman, Principal Advisor, NZ Ministry for Primary Industries and former representative for Tonga at the United Nations in New York

View the full agenda and list of speakers here.

Pricing and Registration

This conference is free to attend but pre-registration is required here.

Contact

For more information on this event, please contact: Oliver White