HUMAN SECURITY AND JUDICIAL ACCESSIBILITY IN SOUTH ASIA: ASSESSING POST-CONFLICT LEGAL REFORMS IN SRI LANKA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25170/gloriajustitia.v6i2.7539Keywords:
Human Security, Judicial Reform, Acces to Justice, Sri Lanka, Transitional JusticeAbstract
Abstract
Post-conflict societies need to rebuild both their justice systems and their citizens' trust in state institutions. For Sri Lanka, where decades of civil conflict have been a predominant influence on governance and civil relationships, judicial reform is central to the retention of human security and the advancement of the rule of law. This study seeks to understand the impact of post-conflict judicial reform on access to justice, accountability, and trust in institutions in Sri Lanka. This will help assess the value of legal modernization in human security, particularly in the dimensions of safety, dignity, and equality before the law. Drawing on the Human Security Framework and the Theory of Transitional Justice, the study is qualitatively doctrinal and case-based. Judicial reform policies, human rights commission reports, and a selection of case studies from the years 2009–2024 comprise the sources of data. Each of the three dimensions of institutional independence, the rights of vulnerable persons, and the civic aspect of the justice system was part of the thematic analysis. This study found that Sri Lanka has legalized the receipt of judicial services and has provided more access to legal aid. However, the need to guarantee active neutrality and provide timely resources, victim aid, and accountability for abuse of power within the bridge of civil relationships remains. The research indicates that the incorporation of human security principles into national strategies regarding the judiciary can further reconciliation, strengthen the legitimacy of institutions, and achieve durable peace.
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