IDLO'S ROLE IN PROMOTING THE GLOBAL RULE OF RULE

IDLO'S ROLE IN PROMOTING THE GLOBAL RULE OF RULE
 
In the era of globalization, when political, economic, social and environmental changes are becoming increasingly complex, the concept of rule of law has become an important foundation to ensure peace, stability and sustainable development. The rule of law is not only associated with the presence of a legal system, but also includes core values such as justice, fairness, accountability and respect for human rights. In this global picture, the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) has emerged as a unique international institution. As the only intergovernmental organization specializing in the rule of law and development, IDLO has been playing the role of a bridge between legal theory and development practice. Through technical assistance, training, policy advice and international cooperation programs, IDLO has made an important contribution to promoting the rule of law, thereby creating a solid foundation for global peace, democracy and prosperity.
1. Background
In the current world context, humanity is facing a period of great change, where the achievements of globalization, integration and science and technology go hand in hand with a series of unprecedented challenges. The international order, which was shaped after the Cold War with its belief in multilateral cooperation, international law and global institutions, is being severely tested by a wave of armed conflicts, geopolitical competition, economic crisis, climate change and increasing inequality. In this period of uncertainty, the rule of law has emerged as an essential pillar to maintain order, protect human rights and ensure that development can take place in a fair, inclusive and sustainable direction. However, in reality, in many places, the rule of law is being eroded or has never been firmly established, leading to increasingly serious injustice, corruption, violence and people's loss of trust in the state. It is in this context that specialized international legal organizations such as IDLO become important actors, contributing to filling institutional gaps and promoting universal justice.
On the political and security front, the world is experiencing protracted crises of increasing complexity. The conflict in Ukraine since 2022 has disrupted European security, caused terrible human losses, and directly impacted global energy and food security. The war is not only taking place on the battlefield but also expanding into the legal and institutional realm, as parties continuously accuse each other of violating international humanitarian law, and at the same time putting the international legal system to a major test in dealing with war crimes and human rights violations. In the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has yet to find a solution, while Syria, Yemen, and Libya continue to fall into a spiral of violence. In Africa, many Sahel countries such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have witnessed consecutive military coups, seriously undermining efforts to build a rule-of-law state. In Sudan, the outbreak of civil war has caused a humanitarian disaster, with millions of people forced to flee their homes. All of these events illustrate the fact that where strong legal institutions are absent, instability is likely to flare up, and only with a stable rule of law can peace have a chance of lasting.
In terms of socio-economic aspects, the world has just experienced the shock of COVID-19, an unprecedented global crisis in modern history. The pandemic has not only claimed the lives of tens of millions of people but also exposed the fragility of governance systems and legal frameworks in many countries. The emergency measures applied – from travel restrictions, mandatory quarantines, economic blockades – often conflict with basic human rights, posing an urgent need for legal adjustments in crisis situations. After the pandemic, the world entered a period of economic recession with broken supply chains, rising public debt, escalating inflation and deepening social inequality. While the wealthy class continues to increase their wealth, hundreds of millions of people in poor countries face the risk of extreme poverty, job loss, and lack of health and education services. This situation raises big questions about social justice and the effectiveness of the law in distributing resources, regulating the market and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone.
In addition, non-traditional security challenges increasingly threaten the foundations of societies. Climate change causes extreme natural disasters with increasing frequency and intensity: storms, floods, droughts, forest fires, rising sea levels. These impacts not only cause economic damage but also lead to conflicts over resources, forcing millions of people to migrate, creating a wave of environmental refugees. In many countries, the absence of a legal framework for environmental protection, natural resource management and the protection of the rights of vulnerable communities has exacerbated the negative impacts of climate change. Meanwhile, the rapid development of digital technology and artificial intelligence brings great opportunities for governance and economic development, but also brings with it a series of new legal issues: data privacy, cybersecurity, AI ethics, and the risk of technology abuse for human rights violations. All of this requires the global legal system to adapt, innovate and respond promptly to reality.
Another issue that cannot be ignored is the decline in trust in public institutions and the legal system in many countries. Corruption, abuse of power, lack of transparency in judicial activities, and inequality in access to justice cause people to lose faith in the government. In many societies, poor groups, women, children, ethnic minorities, migrants, and people with disabilities still face difficulties in accessing basic legal services. When justice becomes the privilege of a wealthy or powerful minority, the foundation of society is eroded and the risk of instability increases. International studies show that in countries with weak legal systems, the rate of violence and inequality is higher, economic growth is less sustainable, and the possibility of conflict outbreaks is also greater. This further affirms that the rule of law is not just an abstract concept, but a vital condition for protecting peace, promoting development and ensuring human rights.
At the international level, although international law and multilateral mechanisms still exist, they are under great pressure due to the wave of populism, unilateralism and power competition. The United Nations Security Council has repeatedly fallen into a deadlock when facing major crises, while the enforcement of judgments of the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court is still hindered due to the lack of strong binding mechanisms. Meanwhile, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that the international community set for 2030 are at risk of being difficult to achieve without a solid foundation of peace, justice and institutions. International experts have repeatedly emphasized that it is impossible to eradicate hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment or promote equality without the rule of law.
All of these factors combine to create a challenging global picture: armed conflicts, humanitarian crises, social inequality, climate change, technological challenges, declining confidence in institutions, and the weakness of international legal mechanisms. In this context, the need for a strong, universal, and adaptable rule of law has never been more urgent. The rule of law not only helps resolve disputes and maintain order, but is also the foundation for ensuring social justice, promoting sustainable development, and protecting human dignity. This is the context that highlights the role of specialized international organizations on law, including the International Development Law Organization (IDLO). With its mission to strengthen the rule of law, strengthen institutions, promote equality, and protect human rights, IDLO has become an indispensable partner in the global effort to build a more just, secure, and sustainable world.
2. The role of IDLO
In the process of human development, the rule of law has always been considered the fundamental foundation for building a fair, stable and sustainable society. At the international level, the rule of law is the basis for maintaining order, resolving conflicts and ensuring cooperation between countries. However, in reality, the realization of the rule of law in many countries still faces many obstacles: weak judicial systems, widespread corruption, inequality in access to justice, or severe impacts from crises and conflicts. It is in this context that the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) was born and gradually asserted its role as a global actor in promoting the rule of law. As the only intergovernmental organization with a specific mission on legal development, IDLO operates with a clear goal: turning law into a tool for development, peace and social justice. Over its more than three decades of operation, the organization has implemented programs in dozens of countries on different continents, from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Kenya, Somalia to Honduras, thereby helping millions of people access justice and benefit from transparent institutions.
The most prominent feature of IDLO's role is its ability to connect law with development. While law was previously seen as a tool to maintain social order, IDLO has proven that it is also an essential driving force for economic development, political stability and promoting social progress. A market economy cannot operate effectively without a transparent legal framework on ownership, contracts, taxes and fair competition. Similarly, social development can only be sustainable when human rights are protected by law, when women and vulnerable groups are given equal rights. With that mindset, IDLO has implemented many programs to support the development of commercial law, investment law and bankruptcy law in developing countries, thereby contributing to improving the business environment, creating confidence for investors and opening up opportunities for sustainable growth. In Myanmar, the organization is involved in reforming land and commercial laws, making it easier for farmers to access credit and giving businesses the confidence to expand investment. In Mongolia, IDLO is supporting the drafting of a mineral law that both encourages resource exploitation and ensures sustainability, balancing economic benefits with environmental protection. These initiatives demonstrate that laws, when properly designed and enforced, can be a lever for development rather than a barrier.
Not stopping there, IDLO also attaches its role in promoting the rule of law to the global development agenda. This organization persistently accompanies the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions. IDLO has repeatedly affirmed that there can be no sustainable development without the rule of law. The organization's studies and reports have shown that countries with transparent legal systems often have a higher ability to attract investment, a greater social happiness index and lower levels of inequality. Thus, IDLO has put the law in its rightful place: not just as a management tool, but as a foundation for the progress of human society.
Along with linking law and development, another key role of IDLO is to support judicial reform and institutional strengthening. A country can enact many progressive laws, but if the judiciary is weak, understaffed and insufficiently independent, the rule of law will remain on paper. Therefore, IDLO has focused on comprehensive programs to improve the capacity of the judicial system. In Afghanistan, after 2001, IDLO was deeply involved in the process of legal reconstruction. The organization supported the establishment of judicial training schools, developed modern curricula, trained thousands of lawyers, judges, and prosecutors, and advised the government on amending the criminal law and procedural law. In Kenya and Tanzania, IDLO’s judicial reform projects have helped shorten trial times, reduce administrative costs, and fight corruption by establishing independent oversight mechanisms. In addition, IDLO also encourages the application of information technology in judicial activities such as e-courts, online records management, creating conditions for people to access justice more easily and improving the transparency of the trial process. Through these efforts, IDLO shows that it does not only make theoretical recommendations, but actually accompanies countries in the journey of strengthening the legal and institutional foundations.
If judicial reform is the backbone of the rule of law, then human rights and gender equality are its soul. IDLO has always emphasized that the rule of law is only meaningful when it serves people. Therefore, in all its activities, this organization integrates the protection of human rights, with a special focus on promoting gender equality. In many societies, women are still limited in their property rights, have few opportunities to participate in the labor market and are almost absent from the judicial system. Recognizing this situation, IDLO has implemented many programs to reform marriage law, inheritance law, and labor law to recognize equal rights for women. At the same time, the organization also encourages women's participation in the judicial system, training and supporting them to become judges, lawyers, and prosecutors, thereby increasing women's voices in important legal decisions. In Kenya, IDLO’s Justice for Women project has helped more than 30,000 women access legal services, many of whom have secured their legal rights for the first time. In Nepal, IDLO played a key role in amending inheritance laws to give women equal property rights to men. These changes not only benefit women, but also contribute to promoting fairness and social stability in general. More broadly, IDLO’s programs support other vulnerable groups, such as children, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities, to ensure that the rule of law truly belongs to everyone, regardless of gender, class or circumstances.
Another unique role of IDLO is its ability to respond to global crises. In war-torn countries, the organization implements transitional justice programs, supports war crimes investigations, national reconciliation, and the establishment of new legal institutions. In Somalia, IDLO participated in the drafting of an interim constitution and supported the local court system, contributing to the country’s reconstruction after a long civil war. In South Sudan, IDLO advised on the development of basic laws, helping the young country quickly establish a minimum legal framework. During the COVID-19 pandemic, IDLO issued detailed guidance to governments to ensure that emergency measures do not violate human rights, and recommended legal mechanisms to protect health workers and people’s privacy. In the environmental field, IDLO is a pioneer in promoting climate law, water and land resource management law, and creating legal tools for vulnerable communities to protect their rights against the impacts of climate change. Through these activities, IDLO affirms that the law is not a luxury only used in peacetime, but is a shield to protect people in the most difficult times.
Finally, the indispensable role of IDLO is to build a global rule of law network. In addition to specific projects, IDLO also plays the role of a knowledge center, regularly publishing research reports, analyzing the relationship between law, development and human rights. The organization also organizes many international conferences, creating forums connecting governments, scholars, and civil society to discuss and share experiences. More importantly, tens of thousands of legal experts from many countries have been trained by IDLO, becoming "rule of law ambassadors" in their own homelands. This is a valuable asset, creating an increasingly expanding international rule of law community, where knowledge and best practices are spread, contributing to the formation of common standards for the world.
All these activities show that IDLO plays a special role in promoting the global rule of law. This organization does not only consider law as a product of the state, but also turns it into a foundation for promoting development, protecting human rights, responding to crises and connecting internationally. In the context of today's world facing many challenges - from geopolitical conflicts, global health crises to climate change - the role of the rule of law becomes more important than ever. And in that journey, IDLO has emerged as a trusted partner, a "gatekeeper" of justice, ensuring that the law is not just on paper, but becomes a real force serving people and sustainable development.