HiiL

We work to achieve people-centred justice: justice that is accessible, affordable, easy to understand

HiiL is passionate about making justice work - improving rulemaking and conflict resolution processes. In today’s challenging environment that is impossible without innovation. Our mission: by 2030 150 million people will be able to prevent or resolve their most pressing justice problems.

16/06/2026

⚖️ New Annual Report Alert: Enhancing Women’s Access to Land Justice in Niger

Saouda, a widowed mother of five, faced destitution after her in-laws unlawfully claimed her late husband’s farmland. Through the Civil Society Organisation Accelerator and the intervention of traditional leaders, Saouda successfully regained access to essential parts of her land. This challenge is widespread in Niger, where approximately 1 in 5 women reports experiencing land disputes. To address this systemic injustice, HiiL collaborated with partners to publish best practice guidelines for resolving these land disputes.

Discover more compelling case studies in the Annual Report: https://www.hiil.org/research/manual-on-womens-access-to-rural-land-in-niger-the-regions-of-dosso-and-tillaberi/

10/06/2026

Heard But Not Helped: Why ‘Reconciliation’ Fails Domestic Violence Survivors in Uganda

Survivors of domestic violence in Uganda face a paradox: they feel respected and heard by justice providers, yet the resolutions they receive leave them entirely unsafe. Both formal and informal justice systems regularly default to reconciliation. Instead of prioritising a survivor’s need for safety, the focus is on keeping the peace, sending women straight back to their abusers with unenforceable agreements. For justice to be truly people-centred, the process and outcome are equally important. A respectful process loses its meaning if it does not result in an effective outcome.

Our report offers actionable solutions to transform the reconciliation-driven process into one focused on survivor safety and desired outcomes. Read the report: https://bit.ly/4dHPn0Z

02/06/2026

🔊 Report Alert: Bridging the Justice Gap for Domestic Violence Survivors in Uganda

According to HiiL’s 2024 Justice Needs and Satisfaction survey, 39% of women in Uganda experience domestic violence. This makes it one of the country’s most widespread and persistent justice problems.

When survivors choose to speak up, they must navigate a complex justice landscape of formal and informal pathways. While Uganda’s use of both systems provides a strong, accessible foundation, a lack of coordination often leaves survivors caught in the gaps. This shifts the heavy burden of managing the entire justice journey onto the survivor. Too often, the resulting outcomes fail to align with what survivors actually need to feel safe, risking pushing them back into silence.

Our latest report outlines actionable solutions to address these systemic bottlenecks. HiiL proposes streamlining and standardising Uganda's existing formal and informal ecosystem. The establishment of clear coordination mechanisms can increase accountability, relieve the burden on survivors, and deliver justice that aligns with their expectations.

Want to know more? Read the article on our website: https://bit.ly/4dHPn0Z

01/06/2026

🌍 Global Impact: HiiL's 2025 Annual Report is Live

Last year, HiiL delivered measurable results in advancing People-Centred Justice globally. Our Justice Matters conference has successfully broadened the definition of justice from a pure rule of law focus to one encompassing stability and security. We have also refined our implementation model, shifting from 'Design and Drop' to a 'Design and Deliver' approach, yielding significant success through institutional and local ownership.

We are deeply proud of last year’s achievements and remain committed to building upon the strong foundations we have established. We extend our sincere gratitude to our funders and partners; your unwavering support is fundamental to our shared mission.

Stay tuned! Over the course of the next few weeks, we will share more in-depth examples of our work in action. Read our report here: https://www.hiil.org/news/hiil-annual-report-2025/

06/05/2026

“Limited access to effective justice services comes at a real economic cost. When businesses are tied up in conflict, they lose the time and capacity needed to grow and contribute to the economy.” - Maaike de Laangen, OECD, Senior Advisor, Public Governance Directorate.

At the Justice Matters Conference in The Hague, HiiL joined partners from Team Europe Democracy and IDLO to explore how commercial justice sits at the intersection of rule of law, investment, and prosperity. Across two panels, discussions moved beyond technical definitions of commercial justice to focus on what truly drives impact: people-centred approaches that make justice responsive to the needs of SMEs, entrepreneurs, and communities. From alternative dispute resolution to legal empowerment, the conversation highlighted practical pathways to reduce the uncertainties that holds businesses back.

A key takeaway: we cannot strengthen commercial justice through formal systems alone. We must also recognise the role of informal systems and community networks in empowering businesses and entrepreneurs to resolve disputes, build trust, and sustain livelihoods.

A big thank you to our speakers: Adam-Shirwa Jama, Mascha Matthews, Anouk Franck, Maaike de Langen

06/05/2026

Tonight, HiiL is looking forward to opening Justice Matters 2026 together with the The Hague Humanity Hub with the inaugural panel, “From Margins to Center: Women’s Justice in Fragile Times”.

At a time when conflict and instability continue to place extra burdens on women, this conversation will explore how women’s voices, experiences, and leadership can help shape justice systems that are fairer, more resilient, and more responsive to people’s needs.

We are honoured to welcome:
• Mariëlle Vavier, Deputy Mayor of The Hague and Alderman for Poverty, Inclusion, Public Health and International Affairs
• Sara Hossain, Chair of the Independent International Fact-finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran and Honorary Executive Director of BLAST
• Helen Duffy, international lawyer and Professor of Human Rights & Humanitarian Law at Leiden University

Moderated by HiiL’s Nigeria Country Representative, Ann Ijeoma Nwafor. Looking forward to an important evening of dialogue on women’s justice, peace, and inclusion at Amare!

04/05/2026

On 20 May 2026, we will launch our new report: Bridging the Justice Gap: Actionable Solutions for Domestic Violence Survivors in Uganda. This webinar will share evidence-based findings from fieldwork across eight districts in Uganda and explore practical, people-centred solutions to strengthen justice responses for survivors.

📅 Date: 20 May 2026 | Time: 10:00–11:30 CET | 11:00–12:30 EAT | Format: Online Webinar

The session will bring together justice sector actors, policymakers, civil society, researchers, and development partners committed to advancing gender justice. Be part of the discussion and help shape pathways toward more accessible, responsive justice systems: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ypcTM47HTsKzoYE_Y_zCAQ #/registration

30/04/2026

Only one week until Justice Matters!
Our annual conference is centered around an important theme: Justice first. Stability follows. We will explore what justice means in the peacebuilding process and its contribution to stability.

📍 Hybrid Sign-Up: https://www.hiil.org/justice-matters/

24/04/2026

What do we take forward when justice and stability demand more than dialogue?

At Justice Matters 2026, we close the day with What We Take Forward on Justice and Stability, a final reflection on the insights, responsibilities, and next steps ahead. With contributions from Maaike de Langen (OECD - OCDE) and Nader Nadery (HiiL), this session will bring the day into focus and look toward what comes next.

📍 Peace Palace, The Hague & Online (Hybrid) | 7 May 2026 (additional programming on 6 & 8 May) | Sign up via: https://justicematters.hiil.org/

22/04/2026

📍 Niger: advancing faster, fairer justice
On 17–18 April, justice leaders gathered in Dosso for the first national workshop on the guilty plea procedure (CRPC), led by the Ministry of Justice in partnership with The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law.

So what is CRPC? → It allows defendants who admit guilt to resolve certain criminal cases more quickly, without going through a full trial, while ensuring legal safeguards. The aim is simple:

1️⃣ speed up case resolution
2️⃣ reduce prison overcrowding
3️⃣ offer a more efficient path to justice for all involved

Over 60% of courts in Niger already use CRPC, with a clear push to make it standard where applicable. As highlighted at the opening, “freedom must remain the rule and detention the exception.” Over two days, courts exchanged experiences and worked towards a more consistent approach across regions.

Next steps: workshops in Maradi and Tahoua to scale this approach nationwide! With strong leadership and collaboration, Niger is taking practical steps towards justice that works for people.

Adres

Muzenstraat 120
The Hague
2511WB

Telefoon

+31 70 762 0700

Website

http://www.hiil.org/

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