Statement by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), delivered by IDLO Permanent Observer to the United Nations in Geneva, Mark Cassayre
"UPHOLDING HUMANITARIAN NORMS AND SUPPORTING HUMANITARIAN ACTION IN TIMES OF CRISIS"
General Debate
19-23 October 2025
Statement by Mark Cassayre, Permanent Observer of the International Development Law Organization
Thank you, Chairperson.
I am pleased to take the floor on behalf of the International Development Law Organization, the only intergovernmental organization exclusively devoted to promoting the rule of law for peace and sustainable development.
Humanitarian crises happen where justice systems are weak, where laws exclude, and where trust in institutions has eroded.
This is why strengthening the rule of law is essential.
Effective legal systems can prevent crises and violent conflict, provide the space for humanitarian actors to operate safely, and create pathways for communities to move from emergency response towards lasting peace and sustainable development.
Across the world, IDLO supports States to build these enabling environments by working with parliaments, governments and justice institutions to promote legal reform, strengthen judicial capacity and ensure that justice is accessible and fair, even in fragile and crisis contexts.
Chairperson,
Parliaments play a vital role in this effort.
As guardians of the rule of law, you translate humanitarian principles into national legislation,ensure that budgets protect those in need, and that laws are fair, clear, and nondiscriminatory.
By promoting participatory and transparent lawmaking, you help rebuild trust between people and institutions – the foundation of peace.
IDLO remains committed to working with you to reinforce the global humanitarian system through stronger legal frameworks, principled governance, and inclusive, people-centred justice. In these challenging times, upholding humanity requires commitment to the rule of law.
Thank you.