Access to justice and national minorities

Access to justice for national minorities is not only about minorities’ enjoyment of rights but is also relevant to conflict prevention within and between states. If states deny, restrict or fail to provide access to justice, national minorities may become alienated, which undermines social cohesion and increases the risk of inter-ethnic tensions. Minority communities may also seek support from “kin” states, potentially leading to tensions between states. The High Commissioner provides guidance and recommendations to states on the relationship between access to justice and conflict prevention and access to justice and national minorities, complementing the work of other international actors, which focus on access to justice in general.