Access to Justice in Urban Slums: A Mixed Methods Exploration for Vulnerable Populations in Seychelles

Access to justice remains a critical issue in urban slums across developing countries, including Seychelles, where vulnerable populations often face significant barriers. A mixed-methods approach is employed, combining in-depth interviews with community focus groups and statistical analysis of legal aid service utilization data over a two-year period. In the urban slum areas studied, only 30% of vulnerable populations reported using formal legal services, highlighting a significant gap between available justice mechanisms and actual usage. The findings suggest that improving accessibility and affordability of legal aid services could significantly enhance access to justice for urban slum residents in Seychelles. Policy recommendations include expanding outreach programmes and subsidizing legal aid services to promote greater use among vulnerable populations.