In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights analyses the obstacles to access to justice for persons living in poverty. Access to justice is a fundamental right and essential for the protection and promotion of all other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that improving access to justice for persons living in poverty requires tackling a range of legal and extralegal obstacles present both within and outside of the formal justice system, including social, economic and structural obstacles.  Reference is made to the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, specifically access to lawyers and legal services.