
IDLO’s Partnership Forum 2024, on “Rule of Law Solutions for a Peaceful, Just, and Inclusive Future,” marked the launch of IDLO’s new Strategic Plan 2025-2028, adopted by IDLO’s Assembly of Parties earlier that day.
“This plan will guide our work at a time when the world is grappling with complex, interrelated challenges, including conflict, climate change, declining trust in institutions, and growing inequalities," said Director-General Jan Beagle in her opening remarks. “In this context, the rule of law can be a powerful tool for promoting peace, unlocking development potential, and protecting human rights for all,” she added.
The Forum brought together IDLO Member Parties, senior government officials, representatives of multilateral organizations, civil society, youth, academia, and the judiciary to stimulate dialogue on critical rule of law issues, share experience, and facilitate partnerships. It featured a line-up of high-level speakers who shared their perspectives of using rule of law solutions to combat corruption, reduce the justice gap for women and girls, advance climate justice, and enable inclusive economic growth.
In her special address, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, underlined that “at the heart of the 2030 Agenda and the Pact for the Future is the rule of law, and it is the rule of law which will see us through these turbulent times," and commended IDLO "for its long-standing commitment to the rule of law and its work tailoring solutions to diverse needs and contexts.”
During the discussion, H.E. Minister Dawda A. Jallow, Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Republic of The Gambia, stressed that “no society can prosper without an effective rule of law system.” Reflecting on the country’s ongoing reform processes, he added that “capacity building is critical at this stage of our transition, and we are proud to have IDLO as a key partner. From training judicial officers to digitalizing court proceedings and strengthening district tribunals, IDLO’s support is helping us restore the rule of law and reform outdated systems for a more effective justice sector.” IDLO will soon launch a pilot court reporting system to assist The Gambia in enhancing judicial efficiency.
Jallow also underlined the rule of law’s contribution in attracting investment and generating economic opportunity. “Through our partnership with IDLO, we are piloting the digitalization of the judiciary to enhance transparency, efficiency, and speed, which are critical to fostering an enabling environment for economic growth,” he explained.
Hon. Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, highlighted the importance of boosting public trust in justice systems by improving accessibility, providing legal representation, and addressing language barriers. "It’s not just about having good laws or strong institutions—it’s about ensuring they respond to the people’s needs," she said.
She also emphasized the importance of legal equality for women and girls in accelerating climate action. "IDLO has been a valuable partner in supporting a legal assessment of our environmental laws, helping us identify gaps and opportunities to strengthen our frameworks for sustainable and inclusive development," she added. IDLO’s efforts to advance gender equality in climate action include publishing a gender assessment of climate and environmental laws in the Philippines.
One way to inspire public trust in justice systems is by strengthening public integrity and anti-corruption.
According to Magistrate Giovanni Tartaglia Polcini, Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, this requires a “new multi-stakeholder approach which ensures inclusiveness by actively engaging a broad spectrum of participants, including civil society, academia, private sector, youth, and media, alongside public institutions.” He further pointed out the need to embed gender equality as a cross-cutting imperative, leverage digital technology, and prioritize marginalized groups that are disproportionately affected by corruption.
Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA Uganda), Ms. Lilian Byarugaba Adriko, highlighted the need to address the multifaceted justice challenges faced by women and girls, including through legal aid and community justice actors. “Sometimes our women have to walk up to 30 kilometers to access a court or a police station,” said Adriko. She added, “Women are discouraged from reporting cases. If they do so … they are considered an embarrassment to their families and to their communities.”
IDLO is working with FIDA Uganda to support the legal and financial empowerment of women to understand and utilize the law to overcome barriers to justice and improve their livelihoods, including by securing tenure rights. "With support from IDLO, we’ve strengthened community justice actors who now handle over 50% of the cases we work on, providing critical legal assistance at the grassroots level,” said Adriko.
Panelists also engaged in a discussion with the audience, which underlined the need for localized approaches, capacity building, public-private collaboration, and digitalization to create inclusive and accessible justice systems globally.
These exchanges, and the partnerships they are built on, will be key to ensuring the success of IDLO’s Strategic Plan as we forge ahead. "Together, through shared experiences and collective action, we can advance practical solutions and accelerate progress toward a world where every person can live in dignity and equality under the law," said Director-General Beagle in her concluding remarks.
Watch the full Partnership Forum video recording here.
Read IDLO’s Strategic Plan 2025-2028 here.