Commonwealth Law Ministers and Attorney-Generals from 56 jurisdictions met in Fiji and called for a strengthening of the rule of law in the face of global challenges facing the 2.7 billion citizens of the Commonwealth.

The biennial meeting was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Fiji, Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka, who underscored the crucial role of law in addressing unprecedented global challenges and described the meeting as a timely opportunity to cooperate on strengthening legal systems, saying:

“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. 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.”

The CLMM 2026 was held on the theme of ‘Anchoring Justice in a Changing Tide: Strengthening the Rule of Law for a Resilient Future’, with a focus on the use of technology to enhance legal services and improving access to justice.

In line with the theme, the primary objective of CLMM is to advance Commonwealth consensus and cooperation and to enable Law Ministers to set clear directions on a range of legal, rule of law and justice issues of mutual interest to member countries.

The meeting was chaired by the Minister for Justice and Acting Attorney-General of Fiji, Hon. Siromi Turaga, who spoke about his hope that Commonwealth Vuvale (family) could strengthen the rule of law by ensuring justice systems remained flexible, inclusive and responsive.

“Together, we considered the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change, digital transformation and regional cooperation, so that our legal systems remain resilient for generations to come.”

He also said the gathering reflected the strong bonds of cooperation, mutual respect and shared values that unite Commonwealth nations.

Legal systems throughout the Commonwealth face increasing challenges. These challenges can be attributed to the rise of digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven governance to growing threats such as climate change, transnational crime and shifts in geopolitics. As a small island developing state, Fiji is particularly affected by these issues, making it essential to build resilience within its legal system as a national priority.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Botchwey told more than 250 Ministers and senior government officials, including the CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg, that the erosion of legal standards and weakening of institutions had real consequences for people, including rising inequality, democratic decline, and stalled development:

“The rule of law remains essential to peace, stability, and development, yet it 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. By working together, we can uphold the rule of law as an essential protection for the people of the Commonwealth.”

She also commended the work of Commonwealth Law Ministers and called for even greater emphasis to be placed on justice in overcoming the current challenges.

The CPA Secretary-General also joined other Commonwealth Accredited Organisations in speaking to Commonwealth Law Ministers during the conference to update them on initiatives taking place across the network, such as the CPA’s work on promoting the Commonwealth Latimer House Principles on the Separation of Powers between the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary and the CPA’s Working Group on Human Rights.

In the margins of the CLMM 2026, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji, Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua, MP represented the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) by chairing a Commonwealth Partners’ breakfast meeting on the ‘Commonwealth’s commitment to respecting international human rights and humanitarian law norms’.

The event focused on four key areas:

• the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)’s Global Initiative (launched September 2024) to address the increasing lack of respect and adherence to the principles and rules of international humanitarian law;
• the CPA and Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum on the case for a Commonwealth Disability Inclusion Action Plan to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
• the Institute of Commonwealth Studies-led work on a Human Rights-Based Approach to Criminal Law, with a Focus on the Decriminalisation of Poverty and Status.

The event provided an open discussion with Commonwealth Law Ministers and senior officials to foster collaboration and actionable outcomes for improving respect for human rights and humanitarian law across the Commonwealth.

The outcomes of the 2026 Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting (CLMM) will help to shape the agenda for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to be held in Antigua and Barbuda later this year.

• Nadi Declaration on Democratic Resilience and Participation
• 2026 Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting’s Outcome Statement

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The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures at national , state, provincial and territorial level working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

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