“The system is based on patriarchy and inequality; we need to change the system together, led by women.” – Marielle Vavier
In fragile and conflict-affected contexts, justice is rarely experienced as an abstract legal principle. It is felt in everyday life, even more so by women as they face the disproportionate burdens of insecurity, exclusion, fear, displacement, discrimination, and the struggle to be heard.
At the inaugural panel of the Justice Matters Conference 2026, hosted by The Hague Humanity Hub and Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (Hiil), speakers explored what it means to build justice systems that respond to women’s lived realities and integrate their voices from the margins of society to the center of decision-making. The discussion highlighted both the structural barriers women continue to face and the ways women themselves are shaping justice through protest, documentation, advocacy, and community-building.
The conversation also served as a reminder that access to justice is deeply uneven. Palestinian constitutional law scholar Dr. Sanaa al-Sarghali, who was scheduled to join the panel in person, was unable to travel from the West Bank after borders closed before her departure. Instead, she shared a recorded statement, setting the tone for a discussion grounded in the realities of restricted mobility, exclusion, and the intersectional and cumulative consequences of injustice.
Speakers
- Marielle Vavier, Deputy Mayor of The Hague and Alderman for Poverty, Inclusion, Public Health and International Affairs, The Hague
- Sara Hossain, Chair, Independent International Fact-finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran & Honorary Executive Director, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)
- Helen Duffy, Professor of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at the Grotius Centre & Director of Human Rights in Practice
- Moderated by Ijeoma Nwafor, Country Representative, Nigeria, HiiL
Key Insights
- Women often seek recognition and acknowledgment before legal remedies. Justice begins with being heard.
- Fragile and conflict-affected contexts amplify existing barriers to justice, including stigma, fear, insecurity, and institutional hurdles.
- Women are not passive beneficiaries of justice reform. Across contexts, they are documenting abuses, mobilising communities, and shaping accountability processes.
- Legal systems alone are not enough. Justice also depends on community support, political participation, and collective action.
- Centering women in decision-making is essential for building justice systems that are legitimate, inclusive, and responsive.
Justice begins with recognition
When moderator Ijeoma Nwafor asked what justice feels like in the everyday lives of women living in fragile contexts, Sara Hossain reflected on her experiences working with women in Bangladesh and Iran.
She explained that people rarely approach justice systems through legal frameworks or court procedures. Instead, they first seek recognition that harm was done to them and that their experiences matter.
“People don’t start with the law or the court. They come in wanting to be heard and their story to be recognised.” — Sara Hossain
Across contexts shaped by protest crackdowns, discrimination, domestic violence, and conflict, justice was described not only as accountability, but also as the ability to survive, rebuild, and continue living.
Barriers to justice remain deeply structural
The discussion repeatedly returned to the practical and political barriers women face when attempting to seek justice.
Helen Duffy highlighted how conflict settings intensify these challenges, from restrictions on movement and access to institutions, to fear, social stigma, and retaliation against women who speak out.
“Women face backlash. There are no protective mechanisms, so their vulnerability is enhanced even just by seeking justice.” — Helen Duffy
The panel also reflected on the broader weaponisation of law and justice systems against women and dissenting voices. In many contexts, institutions themselves reproduce inequalities and silence critical voices.
Referring to Palestine and other conflict settings, Duffy questioned what justice can look like when systems themselves are failing.
“Where do you go if the system is broken?” — Helen Duffy
Women are already shaping justice systems
Despite these barriers, the discussion emphasised that women are already playing central roles in shaping justice and accountability processes.
Sara Hossain reflected on women in Iran who continue to document abuses and preserve evidence despite enormous personal risks. Families of victims have refused to allow deaths and disappearances to be erased or misrepresented.
These forms of documentation, protest, and collective care were discussed not as peripheral and isolated initiatives, but as an act of justice-making in and of themselves.
“We need to see that women continue to protest, continue to be activists. But we need to work on how to get more women into positions of institutional power. Especially as lawmakers, parliamentarians, judges, paralegals. We need to combine institutional power with the mobilisation in the streets.” – Sarah Hossein
As mentioned by Sarah Hossein, the rest of the panel also stressed that law should not only be understood through courts and formal legal procedures.
“We need to make sure justice meets people’s expectations and that it works. Listen to what women want and how they want it.” — Helen Duffy
Marielle Vavier connected these global conversations back to realities in the Netherlands. Although The Hague is internationally recognised as the City of Peace and Justice, she noted that women continue to face barriers to legal aid, protection, and healthcare.
She highlighted the importance of strengthening local communities and support structures for women.
“The only way we can bring peace and justice is if we strengthen our communities. We cannot do it top-down.” — Marielle Vavier
Why this matters
The discussion reinforced that women’s access to justice is not only a gender issue. It is fundamental to the legitimacy and resilience of justice systems themselves.
At a time when democratic institutions and the rule of law face growing pressure globally, the conversation highlighted the importance of listening to women’s lived experiences and ensuring women are not excluded from decision-making spaces.
As the International City of Peace and Justice, The Hague has the responsibility to create spaces for these conversations and connect practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and communities working toward more inclusive justice systems.
About the Event
From Margins to Center: Women’s Justice in Fragile Times took place at Amare as the inaugural panel of Justice Matters 2026. The event was coordinated by The Hague Humanity Hub and Hague Institute for Innovation of Law.
Speakers included Marielle Vavier, Sara Hossain, Helen Duffy, and Sanaa al-Sarghali (through a recorded statement). The discussion was moderated by Ijeoma Nwafor.