Publication: Policy Brief July 9, 2020

Justice in a Pandemic, Briefing Two: Justice for All and the Economic Crisis

Front page of Justice in a Pandemic, Briefing Two: Justice for All and the Economic Crisis
  • Justice
  • Pathfinders

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered what may be the worst global recession since the Second World War—and the impact of this second-order crisis will be widespread, including in the justice sector. Access to justice has been affected by the public health response to the coronavirus, but it will also be challenged by the economic downturn.

Residents of the Santa Marta favela in Rio de Janeiro during street cleaning to prevent the spread of COVID-19. © Photocarioca/Shutterstock.com

The first in this series—Justice for All and the Public Health Emergency set out recommendations for how justice systems and actors can respond to the health impacts of the pandemic. This second briefing now turns to the question of how the economic downturn will affect access to justice—and how justice systems and partners can play a role in the recovery. The briefing examines how the economic effects of COVID-19 impact common justice problems, and how justice systems can anticipate and innovate in response. It provides recommendations for how justice systems and actors can react nimbly to the pandemic’s effects, and look ahead for opportunities to build back better, reshaping justice systems so they can support more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient economies.

Download the full briefing here.

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