Access to justice is about more than the existence of laws. It is about ensuring that every person understands their rights, knows where to seek help, and can resolve legal problems fairly, promptly, and affordably. Yet for many people, legal challenges involving family, land, inheritance, or other everyday matters remain difficult to navigate because of limited legal awareness, distance from justice institutions, or the perceived cost of seeking legal assistance.

Since its launch in 2009, Legal Aid Week has sought to bridge this gap by bringing justice services directly into communities through mobile legal aid clinics and public legal education. The annual initiative reflects the belief that justice should be accessible to everyone, particularly those who are least able to access it.

Building on the success of last year's collaboration, the Legal Aid Forum, in partnership with the City of Kigali and with the participation of the Ministry of Justice and other justice sector institutions, successfully conducted Legal Aid Week 2026 from 16–26 June 2026 across the City of Kigali.

 This year’s campaign placed particular emphasis on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), encouraging citizens to resolve disputes through dialogue and mediation where appropriate. The initiative promoted practical and less adversarial approaches to addressing conflicts, particularly those related to land, inheritance, property, and family matters, while preserving relationships within families and communities.

Legal Aid Week 2026 activities were conducted across Kigali through Mobile Legal Aid Clinics, community outreach sessions, and public legal education programmes. Legal experts from justice sector institutions provided free legal information, advice, mediation, referrals, and other forms of support. The campaign officially opened in Gahanga Sector, Kicukiro District, where approximately 3,000 citizens received legal education and access to legal assistance on family law, land law, and alternative dispute resolution.

Beyond community activities, Legal Aid Week featured nationwide radio and television programmes that provided practical legal guidance on family law, land law, and peaceful dispute resolution, reaching an estimated 4.3 million people. Outreach activities were also conducted in Kimisagara Sector, Nyarugenge District. The campaign concluded in Ndera Sector, Gasabo District, where stakeholders and community members reaffirmed the importance of legal awareness, peaceful dispute resolution, and access to justice.

During the campaign, 202 legal cases were handled, including 59 through on-site legal aid clinics and 143 through the 1022 Toll-Free Legal Aid Call Centre. Community legal awareness sessions reached approximately 800 citizens, while media programmes reached an estimated 4.3 million people. Most cases involved family and land disputes, highlighting the importance of timely legal information and accessible support in resolving everyday legal challenges.

Legal Aid Week 2026 reaffirmed that access to justice starts with legal awareness, timely support, and confidence in justice institutions. Through collaboration among justice sector institutions, development partners, and communities, the initiative continues to promote a more accessible and people-centred justice system.