Key government and judicial officials in the Caribbean are taking practical steps to provide faster, fairer, and more accessible justice services for citizens, by participating in a course led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and funded by the European Union through the PACE Justice project and the Global Gateway Initiative. The course, “Building Digital Foundations for Justice Transformation”, took place on 11 - 13 June 2025 at the Radisson Hotel in Barbados.

This course was designed to benefit those working to reduce the overwhelming backlogs of cases in the region’s justice systems, specifically government officials, legal professionals, ICT specialists, and policymakers engaged in justice reform and digital modernization. During the three-day training, participants from 12 different countries focused on the five pillars of digital transformation — governance, infrastructure, regulation, business, and people — gaining the knowledge and tools to drive digital transformation in courts, legal services, and public justice systems.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Stephanie Ziebell, stressed that UNDP and PACE Justice are committed to the use of digital tools in the pursuit of judicial reform:

“This year, we delivered essential IT hardware, digital recording systems, and servers to courts around the Caribbean, aimed at improving courtroom efficiency and reducing backlogs,” she shared. “We also hosted a regional workshop on AI and Digital Transformation in Criminal Justice. Our work directly supports implementation of the Needham’s Point Declaration on Criminal Justice Reform, which emphasizes the urgent need for digital transformation. Importantly, the project also supports Sustainable Development Goal 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – by strengthening judicial systems and promoting access to justice for all.”

Robert Opp, UNDP Chief Digital Officer, emphasized the importance of capacity building in digital transformation: “Justice systems worldwide face increasing pressure from case backlogs, limited digital infrastructure, and rising demands for efficient service. Digital transformation provides a pathway to reimagine justice delivery — enhancing transparency and rebuilding citizen trust. With the support of the European Union, this training empowers professionals with practical tools to modernize their systems and drive inclusive change across the region.”

This training forms part of a broader €4 million (EUR) initiative, Capacity Development for Digital Transformation, recently announced by the ITU, UNDP, and the European Union, aimed at strengthening the capacity of policymakers and government officials to lead human-centric digital transformation across the public sector globally.