The National Legal Services Authority, India (NALSA), with support from the Government of India, in collaboration with the International Legal Foundation (ILF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) hosted the first regional conference on Access to Legal Aid at New Delhi, India on November 27 and November 28, 2023 with the goal to address the challenges in ensuring access to quality legal aid services in the countries of the Global South.

This was the first regional conference of its kind and sought to initiate, facilitate, and support partnerships that increase access to legal aid across Global South countries in Africa, Asia and Pacific.

The Conference Outcome Document can be accessed here.

Outcome documents of previous conferences can be accessed here.

The 'Chief Justices' Roundtable on Equal Access to Justice for All in the Global South' was held on 27 November 2023 at New Delhi, India. The Roundtable concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Principles on the Role of Judiciary in Ensuring Equal Access to Justice for All in the Global South. The New Delhi Principles set out a bold vision and establish crucial role of the judiciary in ensuring right to legal representation; importance of digital platforms for sharing legal information that enables easy access to courts and its procedures for all persons; and to further integration of technology in the court processes making access to legal remedies easier, faster, and equitable.

The Roundtable chaired by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India brought together 21 Chief Justices and senior judges from 15 countries in the Global South, was convened to discuss the role of the judiciary in ensuring the right to legal representation including availability of legal aid services that are credible, effective and accessible to all; technological innovations that are significant in advancing equal access to justice; and good practices on expanding access to legal information as well as alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

For more information on the Roundtable, please see the concept note, agenda and the 'New Delhi Principles' (outcome document) below -

The 'Ministerial Roundtable on Achieving the Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030: Access to Justice – Global South' was held on 27 November 2023 at New Delhi, India. The Roundtable was chaired by the Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State, Ministry of Law & Justice (Independent Charge). Shri Meghwal reiterated the theme of ‘Global South: Together for Everyone’s Growth, Everyone’s Trust’ as the premise of these discussions, in resonance with the 2nd Voices of Global South Summit, held virtually by India in the previous week.

The Roundtable highlighted the need for stronger south-south collaborations in efforts to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It was reaffirmed that access to justice is a fundamental right and that access to inclusive legal aid services is a vital part of enabling access to this right and an indispensable pillar of peace, justice and strong institutions. At its conclusion, the participants of the roundtable committed to preparing and adopting a ‘New Delhi Statement on Advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Access to Justice in the Global South’ by 2024.

For more information on the Roundtable, please see the concept note, agenda and the outcome document below -