Effective, accountable justice systems are critical to promoting peace, democracy, and reconciliation, with the ultimate goal of preventing human rights violations and upholding rule of law. Rule of law is the principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced.

Desired Equilibrium

Governments diligently and fairly ensure human rights by enabling equal participation for all and protecting against individual persecution based on sex, ethnicity, religious beliefs, or political affiliations. Abusive, authoritarian regimes are supplanted by democratic institutions that empower all citizens and maintain rule of law.

Ways Skoll social entrepreneurs are addressing the issue:

• Creating transparency within existing legal frameworks to build accountability and effective rule of law (Equal Justice Initiative, Global Witness, International Bridges to Justice, International Center for Transitional Justice)
• Building expertise and strategic alliances that establish new legal frameworks to protect human rights (Crisis Action, Equal Justice Initiative, Global Witness, International Bridges to Justice, International Center for Transitional Justice, Namati)
• Mobilizing global citizens behind human rights to influence decision-makers (Crisis Action, International Bridges to Justice, International Center for Transitional Justice, WITNESS)