Dominican Republic promotes open justice at regional public defenders summit

Quito, Ecuador.- The Dominican Republic played a leading role at the First Inter-American Summit of Public Defenders: Open Justice and Artificial Intelligence, where representatives from across Latin America and the Caribbean discussed ways to improve access to justice through technology, transparency and regional cooperation.

The Dominican delegation was led by Rodolfo Valentín Santos, director of the National Office of Public Defense (ONDP) and Caribbean regional coordinator for the Inter-American Association of Public Defenders (AIDEF). During a panel on humanizing justice, he argued that meaningful access to justice depends not only on legal representation but also on ensuring people understand judicial processes and can participate fully.

Santos highlighted initiatives implemented by the Dominican Public Defender’s Office, including expanded legal services nationwide, virtual assistance for families of inmates, greater transparency through prison reports, and the use of technology to strengthen human rights protections.

Addressing the role of artificial intelligence in judicial systems, Santos said digital tools should improve efficiency and transparency without replacing the human element or reinforcing discrimination. He urged countries to ensure AI serves as a tool to expand, rather than limit, access to justice.

The summit concluded with participating countries reaffirming their commitment to regional cooperation, ethical use of artificial intelligence and the modernization of public defense systems to create more transparent, inclusive and accessible justice throughout the region.