World justice day: The role of open data in strengthening justice systems
How data transparency supports accountability, trust, and equal access to justice
Each year on 17 July, the Day of International Criminal Justice highlights the importance of accountability and the global fight against genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. This date marks the adoption of the Rome Statute in 1998, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court. This observance brings together governments, civil society, and citizens to promote fair legal systems and uphold the rule of law worldwide.
Across the European Union, initiatives such as the EU Justice Scoreboard provide comparable data on the efficiency, quality, and independence of national justice systems. By offering objective indicators, the Scoreboard helps Member States improve their legal frameworks and ensures that citizens and businesses can exercise their rights effectively. Open access to such information also supports the EU’s broader commitment to the rule of law, which underpins economic stability, trust and cooperation across borders.
Making judicial data accessible through platforms like the European Data Portal and EUR-Lex allows citizens, researchers, and policymakers to analyse court performance, track legal trends, and identify potential inequalities, transparent data on court rulings, legal processes, and governance strengthens public trust and enables informed debate about reforms. Initiatives such as the European Legal Data Space further improve access to legislation and case law, supporting innovation and collaboration across justice sector.
On this year’s World Justice Day, explore the wealth of justice-related datasets available on the European Data Portal and discover how open data contributes to fairer and more transparent legal systems. Whether you are a policymaker, researcher, or engaged citizen, using open data can help drive accountability and strengthen the rule of law across Europe and beyond.
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