Regional Alliances in Advancing People-Centered Justice in Africa + Ibero-America

September 26, 2025 | 12:00–1:15 p.m. (EST) | NYU Law School

Hosted by NYU and Fordham Law Schools

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This discussion will explore people-centered justice as a means to uphold the rule of law, rebuild trust between citizens and institutions, and reduce the risk of conflict in a shifting global landscape. Panelists will share approaches for bridging the gap between community needs and policymaking, and for using data-driven insights to inform policy, inspire reform, and elevate grassroots innovations on regional and global stages.

This discussion is especially timely as we envision the future of civil justice and ask: What does access to justice look like when led by the communities it serves? What can other regions learn from these models? Participants will leave with fresh ideas for strengthening access to justice through collective action and cross-regional learning.

By the end of the session, participants will:

1. Understand how regional alliances can drive national and local reforms in justice.
2. Learn from practical examples of cross-regional collaboration and South-South solidarity.
3. Gain insights on the role of data and evidence in scaling people-centered justice.
4. Leave with actionable ideas for strengthening access to justice through collective action and cross-regional learning.

Speakers

• Rose Higgins, Policy Officer, Humanitarian Affairs and Migration, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN (Moderator)
• Revai Makanje Aalbaek, Global Lead, Rule of Law Justice and Security, UNDP
• Themba Mahleka, Associate Director, Justice for All, Pathfinders
• Grace Hulseman, Senior Research Associate, World Justice Project
• Laura Ospina, Senior Program Officer, Justice for All, Pathfinders

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