Advancing Access to Justice: Importance and Challenges – Aurora Zekaj
This essay was written as part of the competition ”Access to Justice: Importance and Challenges”, within “Raising Citizens’ Awareness and Trust in Justice System Institutions” project, in partnership with the Center for Advanced Studies – FIT, supported by the European Union Office in Kosovo.
By: Aurora Zekaj
Justice is more than just an idea in law books. It’s the heartbeat of a society that wants to treat everyone with respect and fairness. Imagine a world where every person, no matter their background, language, or wealth, feels that their voice matters. For some, this may seem like an impossible dream, but for Kosovo, it’s a goal worth striving for.
Forming a society means much more than the adoption of legislation; rather, it means that regardless of one’s situation in life, one should be able to access fairness when needed. A transparent and efficient judiciary is the basis for building trust in the people. But what happens when people lose that trust? What happens when a person dealing with an injustice doesn’t know where to turn, or, worse still, does know but cannot afford the path to seek justice due to financial or geographical obstacles?
In Kosovo, the struggle to access justice is an everyday reality for many. Take, for example, a single mother in a rural village who strives to raise her children, protect her home, and keep her family safe. To her, justice isn’t some abstract ideal; it’s about securing a future for her children. She wants to be able to protect her rights, but the system is against her.
She has the difficult task of going through a judicial system that is already overloaded with cases. The courts are full, with some cases from years ago, and the process can take months or even years. The cost of hiring a lawyer is often too high for her, and even when help is available, the process is so complicated and frightening that she may give up before she even starts. To make things worse, many people, like the single mother in this case, don’t know where to turn for help or are stopped by language and location problems.
It captures a broader issue: access to justice isn’t solely about understanding the law, but rather it’s giving the person tools and resources to navigate around a system that seems built to keep them out.
Even with many challenges, there is some hope. In recent years, some of the barriers preventing people from getting justice have been removed. Legal aid programs were initiated, enabling those in need to obtain legal advice and representation regardless of their ability to pay. Such initiatives can be a savior for those who would otherwise not afford an attorney.
Creativity is one of the major steps to justice for all. Just working within the traditional system isn’t enough. We have to think outside the box for different solutions that will make justice more accessible.
What if mobile legal-aid centers were created to go into rural areas to make legal aid available to those who cannot get to a courtroom? This would be a simple way to bridge the gap for those living in remote areas. Or, what if there were mobile apps designed to give citizens easy-to-understand legal advice in their own languages? Such tools could empower people to understand their rights and help them navigate the legal system with confidence.
Personal stories also have the power to inspire change. Often, when people are exposed to others’ struggles, above all when stories include an effort to overcome barriers toward access to justice, it motivates them to act. A young person sharing how free legal aid changed their life, or a mother describing her battle for her rights and, indeed, victory over them, spurs hope in others while pushing the system to improve itself. These stories show that justice isn’t just a set of rules—it’s a living, breathing thing that can transform lives.
Achieving a just and accessible justice system is not an easy task, but neither is it impossible. To achieve this, Kosovo has to focus on more than just legal reforms; it needs a cultural shift in which justice would be perceived as a basic human right, rather than a privilege for the few.
The vision for Kosovo would have the justice system serving all, not just those with resources or influence. It is a vision of a future where each person can be confident that their voice will be heard and their rights considered. Kosovo has an opportunity, unique in all the world, to lead the way in demonstrating even the tiniest of nations can make justice available for all.
In that respect, access to justice is not only a legal issue but the very commitment of society. That goes to say, a system is created in which no person would be left behind. Not only will legal access become available, but people themselves can be trained and taught to avail those means. Kosovo, in that fair sense, stands out to demonstrate what can be done when a given society values equity and justice above everything else.
Long as the road ahead may be, it is not devoid of hope. Every step toward access to justice means a step toward a more equitable society. For this journey to succeed, all of us-citizens, policymakers, and organizations-need to come together to make justice a reality for all.
What we really need to start making progress with is the development of partnerships between the public sector, private institutions, and civil society. This requires investment in education-not only in lawyers and judges but also in average citizens-so they would understand their rights and how to protect those rights. Equally important will be the continued utilization of technology to make this process as simplified as possible and accessible in a transparent manner so that people can gain assistance more easily. The dream of a just society is not out of reach. Kosovo has the opportunity to lead by example, showing that no matter the size of a country, a simple but strong commitment to justice and fairness can truly transform lives. By working together, we can build a future where every person, regardless of their background, language,