Commonwealth Urge Action to Make Rule of Law Deliver for Citizens
Justice ministers and attorneys general from across the Commonwealth have gathered in Fiji for a high-level meeting aimed at strengthening the rule of law and ensuring it delivers tangible benefits for citizens amid growing global uncertainty.
The Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting opened on Monday, February 9, 2026, in Nadi, bringing together more than 250 delegates from the organisation’s 56 member states. The event was formally inaugurated with a traditional Fijian welcome ceremony attended by Fiji’s Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, alongside the Prime Ministers of Tuvalu, Feleti Penitala Teo, and senior government officials from Tonga and other member countries.
Addressing the opening session, Prime Minister Rabuka warned that the rule of law is under increasing strain worldwide, cautioning that its erosion has direct and damaging consequences for ordinary people.
“When the law is weakened or unevenly applied, it is not institutions alone that suffer,” he said. “It is real people and real lives. This meeting must therefore go beyond discussion to produce practical outcomes that strengthen justice systems and public trust.”
He challenged ministers to ensure that legal frameworks remain responsive to contemporary threats, particularly the accelerating impact of climate change, urging justice systems to serve as a protective shield for both people and the environment.
Echoing these concerns, Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey said the meeting was taking place at a moment marked by political instability, economic pressures and environmental risks that have left many citizens feeling insecure.
She warned that the gradual replacement of the rule of law with the “rule of force” threatens democratic governance and social cohesion, underscoring the critical role of law ministers in reversing that trend.
“The work you do here matters profoundly,” Botchwey said. “Strengthening democratic resilience and restoring trust between institutions and the people they serve is not an easy task, but it is essential.”
She added that the Commonwealth’s new strategic plan reflects this urgency by prioritising targeted action to ensure that the rule of law is experienced not only in courtrooms, but in everyday life.
Over the three-day meeting, delegates will deliberate on a wide range of issues affecting justice delivery across the Commonwealth, including how legal systems shape democratic participation, economic opportunity and environmental protection.
Key discussions will address emerging challenges such as safeguarding maritime rights in the face of rising sea levels, improving access to justice through responsible use of technology, and adapting legal frameworks to respond to climate-related displacement and resource pressures.
The meeting is being chaired by Fiji’s Minister for Justice and Acting Attorney-General, Siromi Turaga, under the theme “Anchoring Justice in a Changing Tide: Strengthening the Rule of Law for a Resilient Future.”
The gathering is expected to conclude on February 11 with the adoption of an outcome statement outlining concrete actions that Commonwealth countries will take to reinforce the rule of law and promote inclusive justice for their citizens.
