The rule of law must remain firmly grounded in fairness and strong institutions as nations navigate rapidly changing global challenges, delegates at the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting in Nadi were told.
Welcoming more than 150 delegates from 56 countries, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka emphasised that justice systems play a critical role in maintaining stability, protecting citizens and strengthening public confidence in governance.
“These tides move swiftly and at times unpredictably. No nation is untouched by these shifts,” Mr Rabuka said in his speech this evening.
“To anchor justice is to ensure that amid these changes, the rule of law remains firmly grounded in fairness, guided by principles and upheld by institutions that protect rights, safeguard the vulnerable and create space for mercy.”
Mr Rabuka said legal systems must provide certainty and stability, particularly during times of social, economic and global transformation.
“It means legal systems that do not drift with every challenge, but instead provide certainty and public confidence,” he said.
He stressed that national resilience begins with strong legal frameworks rather than infrastructure or technology alone.
“Resilience begins with justice — with law that holds steady under pressure, with institutions strong enough to serve every member of society and with a shared determination to ensure that the changing tides of our era do not erode the protections upon which our people depend.”
Mr Rabuka also acknowledged growing pressures on justice systems worldwide, noting that institutions in many countries were facing increasing demand and rapid global change.
“Across the world today, the rule of law is under pressure in ways both visible and subtle,” he said.
“In many places, institutions are strained by rising demands, social and economic uncertainty and the accelerating pace of global change.”
He warned that when legal systems are weakened, unevenly applied or lose public trust, it is ordinary citizens who suffer the most.
The Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting brings together law ministers, attorneys-general and senior government officials to discuss legislative reform, strengthening justice systems and improving cooperation among member states.
