- Legal empowerment aims to enable citizens to actively use the law and shape it to their needs. Examples of awareness-raising and legal education initiatives using ICTs include: using television and radio talk shows to build links between the formal and informal justice systems; broadcasting documentaries on local television stations to promote gender equality; etc.
- Many justice systems have limited resources and capacity to provide information on rights and services. Examples of capacity building initiatives using ICTs include: the launching of a judicial website; training staff on how to include all citizens in justice initiatives; etc.
- In many countries basic information about legal rights or how justice institutions work is not publicly available. Examples of providing legal information using ICTs include: using SMS-based initiatives to inform citizens of legal rights; using SMS-based judicial information systems to notify citizens and lawyers of court dates; etc.
- Where justice institutions are limited, legal aid and community paralegals provide services, Examples of ICT Initiatives to support legal aid and community paralegals include: using radio and television programmes to publicise available legal services.
- People living in remote areas are often unable to access state justice institutions. Examples of using ICTs to link up remote areas include: using mobile phones to collect and transmit evidence to courts; providing a free-phone number to contact the police; etc.
- Non-recognition of legal identity is a key obstacle to access to justice as it is often needed when claiming entitlements. Examples of initiatives that register legal identity using ICTs include: using portable registration kits to issue photo ID cards in remote areas; using SMS-technology to gather registration information; etc.
- Managing and resolving disputes through non-state dispute resolution mechanisms can help resolve disputes quicker and reduce the pressure on state resources. Examples of using ICTs in dispute resolution include: providing low-cost mobile tools linking up informal and formal justice institutions; and using SMS-technology and GPS to manage land boundary disputes.
Improving access to justice through information and communication technologies
Question
Identify how information and communication technologies – including but not limited to mobile phone technology – have been used to improve access to justice in developing countries.