Abstract
<jats:p>This briefing paper explores how access to justice is framed in key policy and programmatic documents across Least Developed Small Island States (LDSISs). It examines the diverse justice ideologies that underpin these documents, highlighting the prominence of rights-based approaches, gender equality commitments, and the coexistence of formal and customary justice systems. Drawing on a desk review of documents on justice in LDSISs, the paper identifies dominant themes, key tensions, and opportunities for reform. While many documents implicitly support liberal, development-oriented models of justice, few explicitly engage with the underlying ideologies that shape justice interventions in LDSIS contexts. This analytical gap points to the need for more deliberate and culturally attuned approaches that recognise legal pluralism and local conceptions of fairness. The briefing paper concludes with recommendations for strengthening justice frameworks in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 16, promoting inclusive, locally resonant, and effective pathways to justice for all.</jats:p>