Article 17 protects access to justice. It prohibits people from taking justice into their own hands and requires courts to administer justice promptly, completely, impartially, and free of charge. It also rejects imprisonment for purely civil debts.

For learners, Article 17 is the access-to-courts article. If a question mentions no self-help justice, free courts, prompt justice, alternative dispute resolution, or no prison for civil debt, think Article 17.