KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Commonwealth law ministers meeting opened in Fiji on Monday with calls for sustained action to ensure the rule of law delivers progress and shared prosperity for the people of the Commonwealth in an increasingly uncertain world.

More than 250 delegates, including Justice Minister of Jamaica, Delroy Chuck, were welcomed to Nadi on February 9 with a powerful traditional Fijian ceremony.

The meeting brings together justice ministers and attorneys general from the 56 Commonwealth countries to discuss responses to emerging legal issues affecting people’s lives and livelihoods.

In his welcome address, Prime Minister of Fiji Sitiveni Rabuka warned that the rule of law is under growing pressure around the world.

“When the law is weakened, unevenly applied or unable to command public confidence, it is not abstract systems that suffer. It is ordinary people — real lives… This meeting is not merely a forum for discussion, rather it is a working meeting with real-world consequences,” said Rabuka.

“Your deliberations, and the practical measures you will advance, speak directly to the expectations our people hold of us. Justice that is dependable, institutions that are strong and laws that serve not only those who understand them best, but those who rely upon them the most,” added Rabuka.

Reflecting on the growing legal impacts of climate change, the prime minister urged ministers to ensure the justice systems act as a shield for people and the planet.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey said the meeting comes at a time when many people feel unsettled by political uncertainty, economic volatility and environmental threats.

“This is what happens when the rule of force begins to edge out the rule of law. That is why the work you, as law ministers and attorneys general, do matters so profoundly,” she said.

“Over these days, you will shape action to strengthen democratic resilience… In doing so, you are helping to restore trust between institutions and the people they exist to serve. That is no small task. But it is a vital one. History will remember not the turbulence of our times, but whether we had the courage to rise above the chaos and build a better world together,” she continued.

The secretary-general continued that the Commonwealth’s new strategic plan responds to this urgency by prioritising targeted action to ensure the rule of law is felt not only in courts but in everyday life.

Over three days, ministers will work through an agenda focused on how the law shapes people’s experience of democracy, economic opportunity and environmental protection.

Specific topics will range from safeguarding maritime rights as sea levels rise to the responsible use of technology to improve access to justice.

The meeting will conclude on Wednesday with the release of an outcome statement which sets out concrete steps Commonwealth countries will take to strengthen the rule of law for the benefit of their citizens.