The Disability Justice Strategy is a ten-year plan which aims to ensure people with disability in the ACT have equal access to justice. It is part of the ACT Government’s vision for an inclusive society that gives everyone the chance to participate in community life and leaves no-one behind.

The plan is underpinned by the following principles:

• equality before the law and access to justice are fundamental human rights (as expressed in Articles 12 and 13 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) and section 8 of the Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT))
• people with disability are significantly disadvantaged members of society in being able to access justice
• an ACT justice system which provides equal access to justice for people with disability will be a better justice system for everyone.

The Disability Justice Strategy is for:

• people with disability, their families and carers— to support the right to equality before the law and access to justice
• the justice system—to help the system build capability to provide a better response to people with disability including through the provision of reasonable adjustments
• the service system—to assist the service sector identify the needs of people with disability, recognise that early support can prevent future contact with the justice system, and promote the creation of services which prevent, reduce and break the cycle of contact with the justice system.