Over 55 civil society partners and women human rights defenders (WHRDs) from 19 countries received capacity strengthening from the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund’s (WPHF) Global Learning Hub (L‑HUB) on practical strategies to strengthen safe and effective access to justice.
The webinar, “Access to Justice and Barriers to Legal Systems in Conflict and Crisis” was held on 31 March 2026 and builds on successful engagements at the UN’s 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70).
Participants learned about the fundamentals of access to justice, including relevant global legislative frameworks, localized mechanisms, and tools available to seek legal redress. The session also examined the key risks, structural barriers, and practical challenges individuals and communities face when engaging with legal systems with contextual examples and data from both Colombia and Ukraine.
Women’s civil society and government speakers included Khrystyna Kit, Chairwoman of the Ukrainian Women Lawyers Association (JurFem), and sitting Congresswoman, Carolina Giraldo Botero, of Colombia.
The panelists emphasized the systemic barriers that shape women’s access to justice. Offering perspectives from Ukraine, Khrystyna Kit, Chairwoman of JurFem shared: “In our advocacy, it is essential to ensure access to justice for women and girls affected by gender-based and conflict-related violence. Across different cultural contexts, some issues remain taboo, and this presents a major challenge. Victims of sexual violence often struggle to speak openly about their experiences and to engage with the legal system, which makes it even more critical to create safe pathways for them to seek redress.”
Congresswoman Carolina Giraldo Botero, of Colombia shared that between 2018–2025, over 90% of crimes of violence against women in Colombia did not result in convictions. Barriers include delayed case processing, and generally weak accountability and failure to investigate sexual violence.
“The government is creating specific laws for gender-based violence, specialised gender justice and other laws on reparation for victims of gender-based violence in diverse proceedings,” said Congresswomen Botero. “The law drafts in Colombia are starting to work and there is a plenary for women. Those sessions are where our projects are being skyrocketed. It is sometimes difficult to get the other sessions for women, but we are trying to leave a great legacy behind.”
Colombia has employed several strategies to address these inefficiencies, including a “purple police” initiative: dialing 123 connects survivors to officers trained in gender-sensitive response, though coverage remains limited.
The session is just one of several learning pathways and initiatives coordinated by WPHF’s L-HUB, which focuses on strengthening institutional development, resilience, collaboration and coordination of Civil Society Organizations and WHRDs working in fragile settings.
WPHF invests directly in these frontline women’s organizations, providing vital support that strengthens resilience and lays the foundations for sustainable peace. Through initiatives like L‑HUB, women are equipped with the tools, strategies, and solidarity needed to overcome barriers and secure justice for themselves and their communities.
The message is clear: women and girls in conflict and crisis settings face profound barriers to justice — from structural inequalities to risks of retaliation. Yet they continue to lead efforts to protect rights, rebuild trust, and deliver life-saving services. Access to justice is not only about legal systems; it is about dismantling obstacles, creating safe pathways, and ensuring women can claim their rights without fear.
The session was attended by participants from Afghanistan, DRC, CAR, Colombia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Iraq, Lebanon, Mali, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Chad, Ukraine, Uganda, and Yemen.
With thanks to our speakers and partners: Home page – Jurfem Carolina Giraldo Botero – House of Representatives and ParlAmericas | Ottawa ON | Facebook
