Fiji to host talks on strengthening rule of law

Fiji will use the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting next month to explore how the Commonwealth family can strengthen the rule of law, Minister for Justice and Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga said.

Mr Turaga said the meeting presented an important opportunity for Fiji and other member states to share experiences and practical solutions to ensure justice systems could adapt to changing social, economic and environmental realities.

“Together, we will also consider 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 said.

Fiji will host the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting from February 9 to 12, 2026.

About 150 delegates, including attorneys-general, justice ministers and solicitors-general from 56 Commonwealth countries, are expected to attend the meeting at the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort in Nadi.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey said the rule of law remained essential to peace, stability and development, but was 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,” she said.

“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.”

She said ministers would come together in Fiji 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,” Botchwey said.

Over the three days, law ministers will discuss how strong legal safeguards protect everyday life, from people’s ability to participate in democracy and earn a fair living to their right to live in safe and healthy communities.

The meeting will also include five side events bringing together youth leaders, people with lived experience of the justice system and disability rights advocates to ensure their perspectives inform ministerial discussions