Commonwealth law ministers are meeting in Fiji to discuss ways of enforcing the rule of law amid rising global instability and economic uncertainty.
More than 250 delegates from the 56‑member bloc are discussing how justice systems can respond to political volatility, economic uncertainty and climate‑related pressures.
Commonwealth secretary general Shirley Botchwey said many citizens of the bloc are currently unsettled as “the rule of force begins to edge out the rule of law.”
“History will remember not the turbulence of our times, but whether we had the courage to rise above the chaos and build a better world together,” she said.
She urged ministers to take concrete steps to strengthen democratic resilience and rebuild public trust.
Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka warned that the rule of law is “under growing pressure,” telling the ministers that weakened legal systems ultimately harm ordinary people.
The agenda focuses on how legal frameworks shape democracy, economic opportunity and environmental protection, with sessions ranging from maritime rights in the face of rising sea levels to the responsible use of technology in justice systems.
An outcome statement is expected on 11 February.
JN/APA