Message from the project leader Suliman Ibrahim for the close of the A2JiL project
With the finalisation of the end conferences in Tripoli and Leiden, and the final research report, the Access to Justice in Libya (A2JiL) project has come to an end. A message from the project leader:
"Over the past five years, I have had the privilege of contributing to a truly transformative project focused on access to justice in Libya. It marked the first time a comprehensive socio-legal study—covering both transitional and ordinary justice—was undertaken in the country.
In addition to the core team from Leiden and Benghazi Universities, the project brought together researchers and practitioners from across Libya, including Supreme Court judges and scholars from various Libyan academic institutions and disciplines. Together, we conducted over twenty-two in-depth case studies and carried out a nationwide survey with nearly 4,000 respondents, offering unprecedented insight into how people in Libya experience and perceive access to justice.
The project went beyond generating research; it fostered dialogue and practical engagement. Throughout its duration, we hosted numerous meetings, focus group discussions, workshops, and conferences, bringing together academics, practitioners, and policymakers, and creating meaningful opportunities to turn research findings into actionable strategies.
One of our most significant achievements was the development of a proposal for a national strategy on access to justice, informed by extensive fieldwork and rooted in the realities faced by people in Libya. By integrating academic insights with the expertise of legal practitioners, this project has laid the groundwork for reducing barriers to justice and enhancing access nationwide. I am proud to say that our work is already influencing discussions among policymakers and legal professionals, and I believe it will have a lasting positive impact on justice in Libya."
All project-related deliverables, including final research report, and policy briefs expanding on public lawyers, on the slowness of justice, and on the need for a National Strategy can be found under Research Output.
Interested readers can also find on there a Research Guide, which provides guidance on how to do socio-legal research in the Arab world.
Please feel free to contact Dr. Suliman Ibrahim (Project Leader, s.m.k.ibrahim@law.leidenuniv.nl) or Megan Ferrando (Project Officer, m.m.ferrando@law.leidenuniv.nl) for any queries regarding the research outputs.
