Global Online Access to Law (GOAL) to Further Sustainable Development

This paper presents Global Online Access to Law (GOAL), a multi-stakeholder law initiative, proposed for inclusion in Research4Life. The GOAL programme would provide free or very low cost online access to academic legal content to governmental, research and not-for-profit institutions in developing countries. The programme is currently in the initial phase where partnerships with publishers, academic institutions and the UN are being explored. The fulfillment of basic rights is essential for advancing peace and security, and, in their own right, are often a prerequisite for economic development enabling people to enjoy their full rights as citizens in society. By providing affordable access to a wide range of law materials and subsequent tailormade trainings, the envisioned programme would strengthen a crucial area that is essential to further the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the ones relating to Access to Information and Access to Justice that are currently being discussed for inclusion by the UN working groups. Particular attention is being paid to the inclusion of key areas, such as international and human rights law that can help strengthen legal frameworks and institutions in developing countries and further the rule of law through promoting knowledge exchange and access to information. GOAL is in dialogue with publishers and academic institutions seeking support in staffing, resources and the implementation of trainings as part of the Research4Life broader development scope.