Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey has urged Law Ministers and Attorneys-General to ensure the rule of law delivers real outcomes for people, warning that weakened justice systems erode trust, deepen inequality and threaten democracy.
Speaking at the opening of the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting 2026 in Fiji, the Secretary-General thanked the Fijian Government, traditional leaders and communities for their welcome, linking the ceremony to the core values of multilateralism and the Commonwealth.
“Ceremonies like what we have experienced, involving communities – and the extension of welcome to others – working together is what I believe multilateralism and the Commonwealth are all about,” she said.
She said the Commonwealth’s strength lies in cooperation, shared experience and collective capacity-building.
“We work together in order to make the world a better place. And for us, we are working together. We are sharing experiences [and] sharing best practices, building the capacities of each other so that we will make the Commonwealth a better place.”
Addressing Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Ministers and delegates, the Secretary-General said Fiji’s hosting of the meeting highlighted leadership grounded in culture and community.
“To our hosts in Fiji: you have reminded us today that leadership is not only about institutions and laws, but about culture, community, and care,” she said.
She told delegates the meeting comes at a time of global uncertainty, with political instability, economic volatility and environmental threats undermining public confidence in institutions.
“When the rule of law weakens, people feel it first – and most sharply – in their everyday lives,” she said.
“When laws are applied unevenly, trust erodes. When accountability fades, inequality grows. When justice is delayed or denied, democracy itself is weakened.”
She warned of the danger when “the rule of force begins to edge out the rule of law,” stressing the critical role of Law Ministers and Attorneys-General in defending democratic systems.
Drawing on Pacific experience, the Secretary-General said resilience is built deliberately and collectively, rooted in stewardship and responsibility to future generations.
“Law, at its best, does the same. It provides the framework through which societies manage conflict, protect the vulnerable, and pass on something stronger to the next generation,” she said.
She said the Commonwealth’s new Strategic Plan calls for faster, more practical action focused on impact, ensuring the rule of law is felt beyond institutions and courtrooms.
“Over these days, you will shape action to strengthen democratic resilience. To ensure technology serves justice – not the other way around. To protect maritime rights and legal certainty in the face of climate change. And to expand access to justice so that no one is left behind,” she said.
The Secretary-General said the work of the meeting would help restore trust between institutions and citizens and urged delegates to recommit to collective action.
“History will remember not the turbulence of our times, but whether we had the courage to rise above the chaos and recreate a better world – together,” she said.
