The 2022 World Justice Forum brought together rule of law actors from around the world in the Hague and online to discuss pressing issues related to justice. 

Together with the Dutch Ombudsman, DCAF held a working session to explore the contribution of Ombuds Institutions to improving access to justice and advancing Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16).

The session highlighted the important role of Ombuds Institutions in bridging the justice gap and, by extension, contributing to the realization of SDG 16.3 on promoting the rule of law and equal access to justice. It noted that while Ombuds Institutions are present in more than 100 countries, they are often overlooked in broader discussions on access to justice.

As such, the session provided an important platform to both raise awareness on the important role of Ombuds Institutions in achieving the 2030 Agenda, as well to facilitate knowledge-sharing between Ombuds Institutions on the means and strategies to do so.