New Delhi [India], February 2 (ANI): Fiji will host ministers and attorneys general, including officials from India, at the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting in Nadi from February 9 to 12, 2026, according to a press release by The Commonwealth. The meeting comes at a time when the rule of law is reportedly under pressure in many parts of the world.
Over the three-day event, law ministers will discuss how strong legal safeguards protect everyday life, including people’s ability to participate in democracy, earn a fair living, and live in safe and healthy communities. Ministers are also expected to agree on practical measures to advance the rule of law by improving access to justice and strengthening legal institutions that support stable societies, fair economies, and environmental protection.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey thanked the Government of Fiji for hosting the meeting. She emphasized the importance of the rule of law, saying it remains essential to peace, stability, and development, yet is under serious pressure in many parts of the world. “Where it is weakened or unevenly applied, the impact is felt most sharply by ordinary people. For the Commonwealth, the rule of law is a cornerstone of our Charter and our work. It demands practical, thoughtful commitment and cooperation, not rhetoric,” Botchwey said.
She added, “In Fiji, our ministers will come together to strengthen the rule of law as the foundation of a resilient future, where every person has a voice in democracy, every worker is treated with dignity, and every vulnerable community is protected from a changing climate. That is what our people count on us to do. By working together, we can uphold the rule of law as an essential protection for the people of the Commonwealth.”
The meeting will be chaired by Siromi Turaga, Minister for Justice and acting Attorney General of Fiji, under the theme “Anchoring Justice in a Changing Tide: Strengthening the Rule of Law for a Resilient Future.” Minister Turaga said Fiji hopes to explore how the Commonwealth family can strengthen the rule of law by ensuring justice systems remain flexible, inclusive, and responsive. He added that discussions will also consider the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change, digital transformation, and regional cooperation, to ensure legal systems remain resilient for generations to come.
The meeting will include five side events that bring together youth leaders, people with lived experience of the justice system, and disability rights advocates to ensure their perspectives inform ministerial discussions. The outcomes of the meeting are expected to help shape the agenda for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to be held in Antigua and Barbuda later this year.
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