Twenty-nine government and judicial officials from 11 countries in the Caribbean and Latin American  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‘s (UNDP) Digital Capacity Lab in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and funded by the European Union through the Global Gateway Initiative and the PACE Justice project. The course, “Building Digital Foundations for Justice Transformation”, took place on 11 - 13 June 2025 in Bridgetown, Barbados. 

Designed for government officials, legal professionals, ICT specialists, and policymakers involved in justice reform, the intensive three-day programme equips participants with the knowledge and tools needed to drive digital transformation in courts, legal services, and public justice systems. 

The training centers on five essential pillars of digital transformation: governance, infrastructure, regulation, business processes, and people development—offering a robust framework for modernizing justice systems and reducing case backlogs. 

Robert Opp, UNDP Chief Digital Officer, emphasized the critical role of capacity building: “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.” 

Stephanie Ziebell, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, highlighted the significance of the initiative: “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.” 

Part of a Broader Digital Transformation Initiative 
This course is a key component of a €4 million “Capacity Development for Digital Transformation” initiative recently launched by 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 worldwide. 

Media contact: 

Andrea Petkovic | andrea.petkovic@undp.org

Denyce Blackman | denyce.blackman@undp.org

About UNDP 

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. www.undp.org 

About UNDP’s Digital Capacity Lab 

The Digital Capacity Lab offers hands-on trainings for governments and UN colleagues to create impactful, citizen-centric digital solutions. Using a unique learning approach that prioritizes practical solutions over theory, participants learn through collaborative, interactive sessions focused on context, user-centricity, experimentation, and prototyping. These trainings strengthen digital literacy and competencies to help accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. 

About the EU 

The European Union is the political and economic union of 27 member states sharing freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law as common principles and values. The EU seeks to promote peace and stability, human rights and sustainable development, and  support resilient democracies around the world. Learn more at eeas.europa.eu/delegations/barbados_en 

About Global Gateway  

Global Gateway is the European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world. It is fully aligned with the UN’s Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the Paris Agreement. 

About PACE Justice 

The Partnership of the Caribbean and the European Union on Justice (PACE Justice) Regional Programme is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding from the European Union. The PACE Justice Programme will improve efficiency of criminal justice administration in the Caribbean by enhancing the institutional capacities of prosecutors, courts, police, and prisons.