A/HRC/8/4 page 3 CONTENTS Paragraphs Introduction ................................................................................................... I. II. III. 1-3 4 ACTIVITIES IN 2007 ..................................................................... 4 - 12 4 A. International meetings ............................................................. 4-8 4 B. Country visits ........................................................................... 9 - 11 5 C. Routine activities ..................................................................... 12 5 STATES OF EMERGENCY AND THE RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL ............................................................................................. 13 - 14 5 ACCESS TO JUSTICE ................................................................... 15 - 54 6 A. Introduction ............................................................................. 15 - 16 6 B. Content and scope of the right of access to justice .................. 17 - 23 7 C. Barriers to access to justice ..................................................... 24 - 32 10 D. How the structure and functioning of the judicial system affect access to justice ............................................................. 33 - 43 14 Access to justice in relation to economic, social and cultural rights ........................................................................................ 44 - 47 18 Difficulties experienced by specific groups ............................ 48 - 54 21 MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE .... 55 - 57 26 A. International Criminal Court ................................................... 55 - 56 26 B. Supreme Criminal Tribunal of Iraq ......................................... 57 27 E. F. IV. Page V. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................. 58 - 59 27 VI. RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................ 60 - 70 28