Strong education systems can improve justice systems
But the relationship also works the other way around. Access to education is fundamentally linked to fairness, dignity and equal opportunity. This is in line with education’s moral and political role.
- Frstly, through the law. Education equips people with the knowledge and confidence needed to know, use and shape the law to claim their rights.
- Secondly, by reducing crime. The report presents evidence that education contributes to crime prevention and social stability.
- Thirdly, by strengthening peacebuilding efforts. Across 15 countries, education ranked as the second most important factor contributing to peace.
Education also matters for strengthening justice systems themselves
Judges, prosecutors, lawyers, police officers and prison staff need training that goes beyond technical legal knowledge to include ethics, human rights, communication and community engagement. Evidence from 11 Latin American countries shows that better-qualified judges produce measurably better decisions. In Norway, a two-year academy for police officers emphasizes rehabilitation and human dignity and is associated with comparatively low reoffending rates.
Discrimination, but also weak justice systems, are among the reasons that prevent 273 million children and youth from accessing education globally. In 36 countries, more than two thirds of respondents identified ethnic or racial discrimination as a major barrier to education. Children are also denied education through exploitation and abuse. Globally, 3.3 million children are trapped in forced labour and 9 million children in forced marriage.