HiiL Advocates Justice as a Key to Global Stability
The Hague, Friday, 14 February 2025.
As the Munich Security Conference unfolds, HiiL emphasizes justice investments alongside security for sustainable peace, aiming to strengthen justice systems globally.
Justice and Security Nexus
At the ongoing Munich Security Conference which began on February 12, 2025 [2], HiiL’s CEO Udo Jude Ilo has emphasized that security investments alone cannot guarantee sustainable peace. The urgency of this message is underscored by alarming global trends, including the doubling of conflict levels since 2019, with 50 countries now facing extreme violence [2]. The 2024 Global Peace Index reveals a concerning decline in global peace for the 12th time in 16 years [2].
Regional Impacts and Challenges
The impact of weak justice systems is particularly evident in critical regions. In the ‘triangle of death’ encompassing Chad, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic, organized crime through kidnappings has seen a significant increase, with ransom demands rising from 43 million CFA in 2022 to 52.4 million CFA in 2023 [2]. HiiL currently operates active programs in multiple countries including Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Iraq, Tunisia, Uganda, and Burkina Faso [1], working to address these challenges through innovative justice solutions.
People-Centered Justice Solutions
HiiL’s approach emphasizes people-centered justice that is both affordable and accessible [1]. The organization has set an ambitious goal to enable 150 million people to prevent or resolve their most pressing justice problems by 2030 [3]. This initiative aligns with recent findings from joint analyses with the World Bank, which indicate that low-income households face disproportionate challenges in accessing effective dispute resolution and legal information [8].
Future Outlook and Partnerships
The organization collaborates with various international partners, including the Dutch MFA, SIDA, World Bank, EU, UNDP, and UNHCR [1], to promote sustainable justice solutions. Recent household surveys conducted in Niger (2024), Nigeria (2023), Tunisia (2023), and Burkina Faso (2021) [8] continue to inform HiiL’s approach to addressing justice inequalities. As Udo Jude Ilo states, ‘Justice is not just a moral ideal; it is the common language of stability—one that can unite us in the pursuit of a safer, more equitable world’ [2].