This panel will focus on portable justice, the right and ability of migrants to access justice at all stages of migration. The panellists will share the lessons from migration corridors where civil society has developed accessible, collaborative transnational networks to support migrants in achieving access to justice. Portable justice is important for asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants seeking to remain in a country of destination. Transnational networks ensure they can safely obtain the admissible legal evidence they need to seek protection and durable immigration status. Portable justice is also important for returned migrants. Migrant workers leave the country of employment for a variety of reasons, and many give up claims against their employers because of the practical and legal challenges that prevent them from making claims from abroad. Portable justice ensures that returned migrant workers can vindicate their rights, not only delivering a just result for them, but improving working conditions through accountability for employers. Without effective cross-border support, migrant workers are shut out of justice systems because they return to their families in their home countries, and asylum seekers are not able to access evidence to support their protection claims. This panel will provide practical examples of the need, a normative framework, a draft portable justice “checklist,” and discuss how to address this gap with models for building cross-national networks to ensure portable justice.

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