Fair Trials Index

Fair trials are a cornerstone of the rule of law. They underpin fair and just societies and act as a critical safeguard against abuse by governments and state authorities. Without the bedrock of impartial justice, trust in institutions erodes and entire communities are left exposed to systemic harm.

No index comprehensively unpacks the right to a fair trial. Global indexes matter because they spotlight realities, challenge assumptions and provide reliable data that helps drive targeted, meaningful reform.

Freshfields is supporting Fair Trials Europe by conducting research for a project designed to fill this gap. The Fair Trials Index aims to develop a comparative global index that presents the degree to which criminal justice systems around the world comply with the right to a fair trial, measured through the implementation of the rights and safeguards it comprises.

“We are grateful to Freshfields for their research and support in developing the Fair Trials Index. This partnership is helping us build a powerful tool to map the legal framework and criminal justice data on the right to a fair trial globally, driving transparency and meaningful reform.” Chryssa Mela, Senior Legal Officer, Fair Trials

Objectives

The Fair Trials Index will:

• create global awareness of the set of rights and safeguards that constitute the right to a fair trial, from the moment of arrest until a judicial decision is reached;
• establish clear and measurable standards for compliance with the right to a fair trial;
• facilitate monitoring of progress and setbacks over time;
• reveal new and evolving threats to the rights and safeguards underpinning the right to a fair trial;
• foster communication and collaboration between NGOs, law firms, academia, international corporations and governments, facilitating knowledge sharing and joint efforts to tackle existing gaps in the implementation of the right to a fair trial; and
• provide data and evidence to support advocacy efforts and policymaking at the national, regional and international levels.

“I found the research fascinating, a rare chance to learn about another country’s constitutional and human rights framework and to think deeply about how fair trial protections work in practice. It was also purposeful and genuinely rewarding, and it reminded me why this kind of pro bono work has such real‑world impact.” Freshfields Associate