Making Justice Systems More Effective and People Centred

Trust in public institutions underpins stable societies and thriving economies - yet it is under strain across the OECD and beyond. This report calls for a responsive rule of law delivered through justice systems that keep pace with rapidly changing societies and make rights usable in practice, thereby helping rebuild confidence in justice systems and public institutions. It draws on the OECD Recommendation on Access to Justice and People-centred Justice Systems to chart a course towards fairer, more effective, and people-centred justice systems. The report highlights the urgent need to transform the justice system through visionary leadership, sustained political commitment, data and feedback and cross-sector collaboration. It shows how legal empowerment and prevention of justice problems can strengthen people’s ability to resolve issues, improve their experience of public services, and enhance economic competitiveness - especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. It explores how to design people-centred justice pathways and services that are accessible, data-driven and tailored to the needs of specific groups. Finally, it examines administrative justice as the vital interface between people and institutions, where fairness and responsiveness directly shape public trust. By promoting a responsive rule of law, countries can drive prosperity, improve public governance, support innovation, and help renew people’s confidence in public institutions.