Why strengthening access to the law is critical to protecting human rights

REUTERS/Lisa Marie David

As we approach the curtain call for the “super election” year in which four billion people took to the polls in the shadow of multiple escalating conflicts, converging global crises, and the rapid sophistication and nefarious use of AI technologies, the stakes are too high to dismiss Human Rights Day as just another awareness day.

Our human rights can be both upheld and unravelled by the law. It is a fundamental lever of power, intrinsic to establishing and protecting the rights of individuals and to upholding free, fair and informed societies. However, the law is increasingly being weaponised by governments around the world to choke freedom of expression, undermine advocacy efforts, and crush democracy.

This year, multiple countries such as Turkey, Slovakia, Peru and Georgia have followed Russia in proposing new legislation that would label and discredit media and civil society organisations as operating under ‘foreign influence’. Crackdowns on protest rights across all regions are effectively gagging – and even criminalising – critical voices. Journalists who hold power to account around the world are being persecuted, imprisoned and buried beneath a range of legal attacks to censor public interest reporting. A growing number of lawyers who defend them are facing the same ‘lawfare’ tactics, intending to deter them from representing journalists or human rights defenders.

Beyond this weaponisation of the law by malign leaders, laws are often complex and hard to navigate, especially for marginalised and vulnerable communities. Further compounding these challenges, legal services are scarce and expensive in many parts of the world. For human rights to be protected, the infrastructure needs to work. Yet an estimated two-thirds of the world’s population has unmet justice needs.

Enabling access to the law on Human Rights Day and beyond

This is why access to law is a fundamental pillar of the Foundation’s work, making legal support available to organisations in need, particularly those advancing human rights and defending civic space. Access to free or affordable legal expertise not only informs advocacy work to protect human rights, but it empowers civil society organisations to run efficient and robust operations that are more resilient to legal threats and restrictive legislation. When continuing their critical work is no longer a viable option in their home country, it helps organisations to navigate unfamiliar laws and bureaucratic processes in new countries where they are exiled. It supports journalists to report on matters of public interest without fear of reprisals, and empowers individuals and organisations to access the justice system to seek protection or remedies.

Looking ahead to 2025, it’s more important than ever to ensure that organisations working to protect our civil liberties have the necessary legal support so they can carry out their vital work. Find out how we’re making the law more accessible, as well as the ways you can get involved with our work and receive support.