GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR DEVELOPMENT LAW
20/05/2025
In the context of globalization and increasingly deep international integration, the role of law and the rule of law has become a key factor to ensure sustainable, equitable and peaceful development. In the world, many international and regional organizations have been established to promote cooperation between countries in building a transparent, effective and international standard legal system
GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR DEVELOPMENT LAW
In the context of globalization and increasingly deep international integration, the role of law and the rule of law has become a key factor to ensure sustainable, equitable and peaceful development. In the world, many international and regional organizations have been established to promote cooperation between countries in building a transparent, effective and international standard legal system. Among them, the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) is known as the only intergovernmental organization with a specific mission to promote the rule of law for sustainable development.
The introduction of IDLO is not only to help the international community, researchers and policymakers better understand the role, functions and activities of this organization, but also to contribute to affirming the importance of the rule of law in the global development process. IDLO is not a mere non-governmental organization, nor is it just a funding agency, but an international entity with its own legal status, operating through close cooperation with member states, the United Nations and many other development partners.
Over the past three decades of existence and development, IDLO has continuously expanded its scope of activities, supporting dozens of countries in areas such as reforming the judicial system, strengthening the rule of law, promoting gender equality, improving access to justice, and ensuring that the law serves the interests of all people. This organization also plays an important role in supporting developing countries and transition countries, which often face difficulties in building effective, transparent and fair legal systems. In this article, we will learn comprehensively about IDLO, from its history of formation and development, organizational structure and legal status, to its mission, vision, fields of operation and global significance. Through this, it can be clearly seen that IDLO is not only a purely international organization, but also a "companion" of many countries on the path of building and strengthening the rule of law, for a fair, peaceful and sustainable world.
1. The formation and development process of IDLO
At the end of the 20th century, the world witnessed enormous changes in economics, politics and society. The process of globalization, the expansion of international trade, as well as the need for cross-border cooperation, has created an urgent need for effective, transparent and fair legal systems. Many developing countries, as well as countries transitioning from planned to market economies, face many challenges in building a legal framework that meets the requirements of integration. In that context, the idea of establishing an international organization dedicated to supporting legal development and promoting the rule of law was formed. This idea is based on the realization that, to develop sustainably, a country needs not only financial and technological resources, but also a solid legal foundation to ensure fairness, stability and transparency in national governance.
1.1. Establishment and early years of operation
In 1983, an international legal training program was initiated in Rome, Italy, with the participation of international law experts and support from the Italian Government. This program later became the foundation for the establishment of the International Development Legal Organization (IDLO). By 1988, IDLO was officially established as an independent international organization. In 1989, the organization began implementing its first projects, focusing on training and improving legal capacity for developing countries. The birth of IDLO marked an important turning point, as it is the only intergovernmental organization in the world with a specific mission to promote the rule of law for development. In the early years, IDLO focused heavily on training lawyers, judges and legal officials from developing countries, especially in Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. These training courses, held at the Rome headquarters, provide thousands of students with access to knowledge of international law, international trade, dispute resolution and legal reform.
1.2. Stage of expansion and role affirmation (1990–2000)
The 1990s were a period of great world upheaval: the collapse of the Soviet Union, the transition in Eastern Europe, and the boom in global trade. In that context, IDLO rapidly expanded its activities, not only stopping at training but also directly participating in legal and judicial reform programs. Many countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, after escaping the socialist mechanism, received support from IDLO in building constitutions, court systems, and important codes such as commercial law, investment law, and civil law. In Africa, IDLO implemented programs to strengthen the rule of law, fight corruption, and protect human rights. IDLO's growth during this period was also demonstrated by the establishment of official cooperative relations with the United Nations and many other international development organizations. IDLO gradually became recognized as a strategic partner in global development programs.
1.3. International cooperation and position affirmation (2000–2010)
Entering the 21st century, IDLO has become one of the prestigious organizations in the field of rule of law and development. In 2001, IDLO signed a cooperation agreement with the United Nations, officially becoming a recognized partner in the system of international organizations. During this period, IDLO focused on three major areas: (i) reforming the legal and judicial system, (ii) enhancing legal capacity for countries, (iii) promoting the rule of law as a pillar of sustainable development. The organization also expanded its cooperation network with many governments, non-governmental organizations, research institutes and universities around the world. In the following years, IDLO actively participated in legal assistance activities in crisis situations, such as rebuilding the legal system in post-war Afghanistan, or supporting Latin American countries in the fight against organized crime.
1.4. Modernization and deep integration period (2010 to present)
Since 2010, IDLO has entered a new phase of development, which is more strategic and comprehensive. In 2011, IDLO was granted permanent observer status at the United Nations General Assembly – an important milestone demonstrating international recognition of the organization’s role. During this period, IDLO has focused strongly on linking the rule of law with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In particular, SDG16 on “peace, justice and strong institutions” is considered the focus of IDLO’s activities. In addition, IDLO has also adapted to the new context of the world, including the challenges of climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, transnational migration and international conflicts. The organization has implemented many initiatives to ensure that law and justice are not interrupted even in emergency situations.
From a small training program in Rome, IDLO has grown into an international organization with far-reaching influence, with a network of activities spanning many continents. This organization has made an important contribution to enhancing the legal capacity of countries, consolidating the rule of law, and promoting international cooperation in the field of law. Today, IDLO is recognized as a “bridge” between countries, a center of expertise on the rule of law, and a trusted partner of the United Nations as well as many development organizations. The history of the formation and development of IDLO is a clear demonstration of the essential role of law in the development of humanity.
2. Legal status, members and organizational structure
2.1. Legal status of IDLO
IDLO is an independent intergovernmental organization (IGO), established based on international agreements between member countries. Unlike non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or independent research institutes, IDLO has full international legal status, recognized in international diplomatic and legal relations. This allows IDLO to: Sign agreements and cooperation agreements with countries, international organizations and United Nations agencies; Enjoy diplomatic immunity and privileges according to international standards for intergovernmental organizations; Act as an independent entity in project implementation, financial and human resource management. Possessing an independent international legal status helps IDLO become a reliable bridge, able to coordinate, monitor and support rule of law programs in many different countries, including those with complex political and social situations.
2.2. IDLO Members
Currently, IDLO has more than 30 member countries from different regions of the world. IDLO's membership includes both developed and developing countries, creating diversity and global representation.
2.3. IDLO's governance structure
IDLO's governance structure is designed on the principles of democracy, transparency and efficiency, ensuring that all important decisions are made with the participation of member states.
As an independent intergovernmental organization, IDLO has a special relationship with the United Nations. In 2011, IDLO was officially granted permanent observer status at the United Nations General Assembly. This is an important legal and political basis for IDLO to participate in discussions, contribute opinions and coordinate the implementation of programs within the framework of the global agenda. In addition, IDLO also cooperates closely with many other international organizations such as the World Bank, the European Union (EU), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), as well as non-governmental organizations, research institutes and universities. This diverse coordination ensures that IDLO can mobilize financial, knowledge and technical resources to serve member countries effectively.
It can be seen that the independent international legal status, the diversity of its members and the tight organizational structure have created a solid foundation for IDLO's activities. This is a difference compared to many other international organizations, helping IDLO to have both global representation and the ability to act flexibly and effectively. Thanks to its transparent governance mechanism, close coordination with the United Nations and partners, and a network of offices spread across the globe, IDLO has been affirming its position as a leading international organization in the field of the rule of law for sustainable development.
3. Mission, vision and core values
3.1. IDLO's Mission
Since its inception, IDLO has defined its core mission as “promoting the rule of law for development and justice”. This mission reflects the common understanding that a society can only develop sustainably when it is based on the rule of law – that is, the law must be respected, fair, transparent and applied equally to all citizens.
Specifically, IDLO aims to:
3.2. Long-term vision
IDLO's vision is a world where everyone can live in justice, peace and sustainable development, guaranteed by the rule of law.
This vision can be concretized through three aspects:
IDLO's activities are guided by a number of core values, which can be seen as a compass for all of the organization's programs and projects:
4. IDLO's main areas of operation
As the only intergovernmental organization dedicated to the rule of law for sustainable development, IDLO works across a wide range of areas, reflecting the interconnectedness of law, justice and development. These areas are not only diverse in content but also global in nature, tailored to the needs of individual countries and the international community.
4.1. Reform and strengthen the judicial system
One of IDLO’s major focuses is legal and judicial reform. Many countries, especially those in the developing or transitional stage, struggle to build an independent, effective and fair judicial system. IDLO has supported:
4.2. Promoting gender equality and women's empowerment
Gender equality is one of IDLO’s strategic priorities. The organization recognizes that, in many countries, women face barriers to accessing justice and participating in the legal system. Therefore, IDLO focuses on:
4.3. Legal support in socio-economic development
The rule of law is not only linked to justice but also an important driving force for economic development. IDLO focuses on creating a favorable legal environment for trade, investment and economic governance, through the following activities:
4.4. Legal support in times of crisis and transition
IDLO is also prominent for its response role in crisis situations where law and justice are often disrupted.
4.5. Research, training and capacity building
In addition to directly assisting countries, IDLO is also an international legal research and training center. It regularly organizes:
5. The global significance and role of IDLO
In more than three decades of operation, IDLO has demonstrated that the rule of law is not just an abstract concept of justice, but also a practical foundation for building a stable, developed and sustainable society. IDLO's global significance and role can be seen on many levels.
- Contributing to the consolidation of international peace and stability: In many post-conflict countries, the legal system is often broken or severely weakened. The presence of IDLOs in these stages not only supports the reconstruction of the legal basis, but also helps to build people's trust in the state and the justice system. Such trust is the foundation for healing social divisions, preventing the resurgence of violence , and moving towards lasting peace. IDLOs can therefore be considered "institution builders" in the international peace process.
- Linking the rule of law with sustainable development: Unlike many organizations that only focus on economic or humanitarian aid, IDLO chooses to support through law. This ensures sustainable development results, because law creates a long-term institutional framework for governance and social justice. In the context of globalization, IDLO's role becomes even more important when many countries need: Transparent commercial law systems to attract investment; Effective environmental laws to protect resources; Human rights laws to promote equality and justice. Thus, IDLO is the bridge between economic development, social justice and environmental protection - the three pillars of sustainable development.
- Promoting the implementation of international commitments: IDLO is an active partner in realizing the 2030 Agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG16: “Peace, justice and strong institutions”. Through its programs, IDLO contributes to transforming international commitments into concrete actions in each country and territory. In addition, as an observer at the United Nations, IDLO also participates in multilateral forums, makes policy recommendations, and creates conditions for the voices of developing countries to be heard.
- Building a global rule of law community: IDLO's research, training and policy dialogue activities have contributed to the formation of a global network on the rule of law. This network includes judges, lawyers, scholars, experts and civil society organizations from many countries. Thanks to that, legal knowledge and experience are widely shared, promoting international legal integration.
- Deep humanitarian significance: Above all, IDLO’s global role is humanitarian: supporting vulnerable groups – women, children, poor communities, people affected by conflict or climate change – to access justice and protect their rights. It is proof that the law, if properly formulated and enforced, can be a powerful tool to protect human dignity.
RESULTS OF IMPLEMENTING IDLO'S STRATEGIC ORIENTATION 2021–2024
1. IDLO's 2021–2024 Strategic Context and Direction
The period 2021-2024 is considered a turning point for the International Development Organization (IDLO). The formation and implementation of strategic orientations during this period took place in an extremely complex global context with many unprecedented fluctuations, and at the same time witnessed a profound change in the international community's approach to the issue of rule of law, human rights and sustainable development. First of all, we must mention the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic broke out in late 2019 and lasted until 2021-2022, leaving serious consequences in all areas of political, economic and social life. Countries around the world simultaneously faced a public health crisis, overloaded health care systems, a global recession, disrupted supply chains and millions of people falling into poverty. In this emergency, many governments have been forced to adopt extraordinary restrictive measures, from lockdowns, travel bans to strict information controls. Although necessary to protect public health, these measures have also given rise to many controversies about their legality, compliance with international human rights standards and the role of law enforcement in emergency situations. This is one of the issues raised by IDLO: how to support countries in designing a legal framework to respond to the crisis, ensuring both effective epidemic control and respect for basic human rights.
Along with the pandemic, the global political and security situation in 2021-2024 is also full of instability. Armed conflicts, terrorism, violent extremism and forced migration are still fierce in many regions, especially the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe. The Russia-Ukraine conflict that broke out in early 2022 has become one of the biggest events, not only causing casualties and a serious humanitarian crisis, but also shaking the international order, heightening geopolitical tensions and posing an unprecedented challenge to the international rule of law system. Similarly, in many developing countries, political instability, corruption, human rights violations and declining public trust in the government remain prominent issues. In this context, IDLO determined that strengthening the rule of law is not only a mere technical requirement, but also a pillar for maintaining peace, stability and comprehensive development.
On the socio-economic front, the global development gap is widening. While many developed countries are rapidly adopting digital technology, artificial intelligence and green transformation to recover from the pandemic, most poor countries are struggling with debt crises, inflation, unemployment and food security. Vulnerable groups such as women, children, migrants and people with disabilities are further disadvantaged with limited access to justice, social services and development opportunities. This reality shows that the rule of law must be seen as an important tool to reduce inequality, distribute resources fairly and ensure inclusive development. This is also why IDLO focuses its 2021–2024 orientation on promoting inclusive justice and equality, considering it the foundation for building social trust and strengthening the legitimacy of public institutions.
Another special contextual factor for the 2021–2024 period is the rapid increase in non-traditional global challenges, especially climate change and digital transformation. Climate change not only causes extreme natural disasters, livelihood crises and environmental migration, but also poses an urgent need for an international and national legal framework to manage resources, protect the environment and promote climate justice. Meanwhile, the digitalization process and the explosive growth of artificial intelligence, big data and online platforms bring many opportunities but also give rise to a series of new legal issues: privacy, information security, cyber security, digital crime and the risk of spreading disinformation. Many national legal systems have not yet adapted to the speed of technological development, leading to a legal vacuum. Faced with this reality, IDLO recognizes that the rule of law cannot be limited to traditional areas, but must extend to the environmental and technological fields, playing a leading role in regulating, shaping and controlling new global processes.
Against this backdrop, IDLO has clearly defined its strategic direction for the 2021–2024 period. The first focus is on strengthening the rule of law and judicial institutions, focusing on legal reform, enhancing court capacity, ensuring the independence and accountability of the judicial system. The second focus is on promoting equitable and inclusive justice, with a particular emphasis on access to justice for women, girls and vulnerable groups, in order to eliminate all forms of discrimination and create conditions for all citizens to benefit from the legal system. The third focus is on integrating the rule of law with post-pandemic recovery and responding to global challenges, that is, considering the rule of law as a tool to ensure sustainable development, manage health crises, protect the environment, promote gender equality and govern digital technology. In addition, IDLO also sets out an important internal direction: strengthening partnerships and improving organizational capacity, to ensure that the strategy is effectively implemented, with broad coordination with global actors and making the most of the organization's limited resources.
2. Outstanding results achieved in the 2021–2024 period of IDLO
During the 2021–2024 period, IDLO implemented its strategic direction in a global context of unprecedented changes and challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, political crises, economic and environmental instability, as well as rapid changes in technology and digital governance. Against this backdrop, the organization focused its efforts on the strategic priorities it had set: strengthening the rule of law and judicial institutions, promoting inclusive justice and human rights, integrating the rule of law with sustainable development, and expanding global partnerships. The achievements over these four years not only reflect IDLO’s flexibility and adaptability, but also demonstrate its pioneering role in connecting the rule of law with sustainable development issues.
2.1. Strengthening the legal and judicial system
One of IDLO’s most important achievements during this period was the strengthening of the rule of law and judicial capacity in many developing countries. The organization implemented legal assistance, policy advice and professional training programs to help countries build legal systems that are transparent, fair and able to adapt to global challenges.
In Africa , IDLO works with judicial authorities in Somalia, Mali and Kenya to improve judicial capacity, particularly in cases involving women’s rights, children’s rights and natural resources. In Somalia, the organization has supported the development of an interdisciplinary training program for judges, prosecutors and lawyers, which has improved judicial capacity in civil and criminal cases. This training system not only improves legal expertise but also strengthens the independence of the judiciary, reduces the risk of corruption and ensures people’s access to justice.
In Asia , IDLO has implemented legal reform projects in Afghanistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh, focusing on the development of commercial codes, labor codes and laws protecting children’s rights. These projects are accompanied by support for training of judicial officials, advice on monitoring and accountability mechanisms, helping countries adapt to international rule of law standards. As a result, many codes have been updated, narrowing the gap between current laws and international practices, thereby creating a solid legal foundation for socio-economic development.
In Latin America , IDLO works with Peru, Guatemala, and Honduras to support judicial reform and fight corruption. Projects include establishing transparent judicial mechanisms, providing training on professional ethics, and supporting the development of public oversight systems. As a result, many judicial bodies have improved the efficiency of their judiciary, reduced the time it takes to resolve cases, and increased citizen confidence in the legal system.
2.2. Promoting inclusive access to justice and human rights
In addition to strengthening the rule of law, IDLO places special emphasis on ensuring that all citizens, especially vulnerable groups, have access to justice. This is one of its core priorities, as legal inclusion is a prerequisite for maintaining peace and social stability.
In Africa , IDLO implements community justice and informal mediation models in Somalia, Mali and Niger, providing legal assistance to people in rural areas and areas with limited access to courts. This program not only resolves disputes quickly but also increases legal literacy in communities, reducing the risk of conflict and violence.
In Asia , IDLO’s projects in Afghanistan and Bangladesh focus on the rights of women and girls. Legal aid programs for women experiencing domestic violence, litigation support, and community mediation have increased case resolution rates and raised awareness of the rights of women and girls. IDLO also works with civil society organizations to set up legal advice lines, helping vulnerable populations access accurate legal information.
In Latin America , IDLO focuses on protecting the rights of indigenous peoples, migrants, and economically disadvantaged groups. It implements legal aid projects in Guatemala and Honduras and develops community training programs on human rights and the law. These initiatives contribute to conflict reduction, strengthening local mediation capabilities, and improving relations between governments and communities.
2.3. Integrating the rule of law with sustainable development
One of the breakthroughs in the 2021–2024 orientation is IDLO’s integration of the rule of law with the fields of sustainable development and responding to global challenges. The organization recognizes that the rule of law is not only a tool for social management but also a foundation for sustainable development, environmental protection and health crisis prevention. In the environmental field, IDLO implements climate justice programs in Somalia, Kenya, Peru and Honduras. The organization supports the development of legal frameworks on natural resource management, forest land protection and mineral resource exploitation regulation, and advises on transparent monitoring mechanisms. Thanks to that, many environmental projects are implemented in accordance with legal regulations, minimizing resource conflicts and protecting community livelihoods. Regarding health crises, IDLO coordinates with state agencies and international organizations to develop legal recommendations related to COVID-19 prevention. These guidelines help countries strike a balance between pandemic prevention and human rights protection, from managing lockdowns and quarantines to distributing vaccines and ensuring access to healthcare. IDLO also focuses on applying the rule of law in technology governance. Pilot programs in Kenya and Bangladesh on personal data protection laws, cybersecurity and online platform management have contributed to reducing legal risks in the digital environment, while ensuring citizens’ privacy and access to information.
2.4. Expanding partnerships and improving organizational effectiveness
A highlight of the 2021–2024 period is IDLO’s expansion of multilateral partnerships. The organization works closely with the United Nations, development banks, regional organizations, NGOs and local communities to implement rule of law programs. This multi-stakeholder approach helps expand the scope of influence, mobilize resources and share international experiences, while enhancing the inclusiveness and sustainability of rule of law initiatives. IDLO also improves internal organizational capacity through innovation in management processes, increased financial transparency and the adoption of evidence-based monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. These improvements help the organization measure the practical impact of projects and adjust implementation strategies to suit the actual context.
3. Strategic orientation for the period 2025-2028
Based on the achievements, limitations and lessons learned from the 2021–2024 period, IDLO has developed a strategic orientation for the 2025–2028 period with the goal of consolidating its position as an international pioneer in the field of rule of law for sustainable development. This orientation reflects a long-term vision, continuing to connect the rule of law with issues of socio-economic development, human rights, climate change and digital transformation, while emphasizing flexible adaptation to global fluctuations.
The period 2025–2028 is forecast to continue to witness many challenges and opportunities: increasing climate crisis, persistent social inequalities, political conflicts and non-traditional security threats such as cybercrime and new pandemics. At the same time, the digital age, artificial intelligence, big data and green economy open up many development opportunities, but also require a solid legal framework and effective governance. On this basis, IDLO's strategic orientation 2025–2028 sets the main goals of strengthening comprehensive rule of law, expanding access to inclusive justice, integrating rule of law with sustainable development goals and enhancing organizational capacity as well as multilateral partnerships. This orientation is formed based on lessons from the period 2021–2024, in particular the recognition that: rule of law cannot be separated from social, economic and environmental contexts; The application of technology needs to be synchronized with infrastructure and training; and the rule of law project is only sustainable when local capacity is built synchronously. Therefore, the new strategy is systematic, connecting four core pillars, while emphasizing inclusiveness, sustainability and flexibility. The four pillars include:
The first pillar is strengthening the rule of law and judicial capacity . This is the foundation for all other activities, because if legal institutions are weak, non-transparent or lacking independence, all efforts on human rights and sustainable development will be difficult to achieve effectively. IDLO will continue to support the development, revision and harmonization of legal documents, and provide specialized training for judges, prosecutors, lawyers and judicial officers. The organization also focuses on establishing monitoring, transparency and accountability mechanisms, helping to strengthen public trust in the legal system.
The second pillar is promoting equitable and inclusive access to justice . During the period 2025–2028, IDLO will strengthen initiatives to eliminate inequalities in access to justice, particularly targeting women, girls, the poor and vulnerable groups. Community justice, informal mediation and online legal aid programmes will be widely implemented, helping to increase access to justice, reduce social conflicts and strengthen socio-political stability.
The third pillar is integrating the rule of law with sustainable development and responding to global challenges . IDLO recognizes that sustainable development cannot be achieved without the rule of law. Therefore, its programs will link the rule of law with the environment, climate change, digital technology, public health and economic governance. For example, in the environmental field, IDLO will support the development of regulations on natural resource management, environmental protection and climate change response; in the technology field, the organization will promote the rule of law on data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
The fourth pillar is strengthening institutional capacity and expanding partnerships . IDLO aims to strengthen management capacity, improve resource efficiency and transparency in operations, and expand cooperation with the United Nations, development banks, regional organizations, civil society and the private sector. This multi-layered partnership not only expands the scope of influence but also helps to share knowledge and mobilize resources to implement large-scale projects.
The 2025–2028 Vision is not only an action plan but also reflects IDLO’s long-term vision: to transform the rule of law into a tool to promote sustainable development, reduce inequality, protect human rights and respond effectively to global challenges. The strategy also affirms IDLO’s role as a multidisciplinary knowledge and practice center, contributing to shaping rule of law policies on a global scale. The close combination of institutional strengthening, access to justice, sustainable development integration and organizational capacity building reflects a systematic, flexible and inclusive approach, suitable for the fluctuations, challenges and opportunities of today’s world.
IDLO'S STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS 2025–2028: RULE OF LAW FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL RESILIENCE
As the world enters a period of unprecedented change, the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) has established the 2025–2028 Strategy as a framework for action to strengthen the rule of law, promote justice and ensure sustainable development globally. The plan is designed not only to respond to existential challenges such as climate change, health crises, conflicts and inequality, but also to build long-term resilience in legal and governance systems. The ideological foundation of the strategy is the affirmation that the rule of law is not just an end in itself, but a prerequisite for maintaining peace, security and development. Over the past three decades, IDLO has accumulated experience implementing projects in many vulnerable areas, from which it has concluded that only when the rule of law is built to be fair, inclusive and effectively enforced can countries overcome crises and create an environment for sustainable development. The 2025–2028 Strategy is considered a new defining step, both inheriting previous achievements and adjusting to suit the rapidly changing global context.
I. Global context of the 2025–2028 Strategy
The current global context is marked by enormous changes, opening up new opportunities and posing complex challenges for the international legal system and individual countries. On the political and security front, prolonged armed conflicts, the rise of violent extremism, and transnational terrorism are still directly threatening peace and stability in many regions. In addition, humanitarian crises and international migration are increasingly serious, forcing millions of people to leave their homelands in a situation of legal insecurity, vulnerable to exploitation, discrimination and human rights violations. On the other hand, the decline in people's trust in public institutions, especially in the context of some governments using power arbitrarily, violating the rule of law, has led to waves of social protests and increased political instability. It is in this context that IDLO considers strengthening the rule of law and promoting good governance as an urgent priority, to ensure that human rights are respected, justice is done and peace is maintained.
On the socio-economic front, the widening inequality gap is a prominent challenge. Although globalization and the fourth industrial revolution have created significant development achievements, their benefits are not distributed fairly. Many rich countries enjoy high growth rates, while poor countries are still struggling with poverty reduction, food security and lack of basic services. Even within each country, the gap between rich and poor is increasingly fierce, especially in large cities. Vulnerable groups such as women, children, migrants, indigenous people and people with disabilities are often disadvantaged in accessing public services, the judicial system and development opportunities. This situation shows that the rule of law is not only a legal concept, but also a tool to regulate social relations, fairly allocate resources and ensure inclusiveness in development. Therefore, IDLO considers promoting inclusive justice and equality as an important pillar of its 2025–2028 strategy.
On the environmental dimension, climate change has become an existential threat to human security and sustainable development. Rising sea levels, extreme natural disasters, droughts and natural resource degradation are causing livelihood crises for millions of people, especially in coastal countries and vulnerable regions. The environmental crisis is not only an ecological problem, but also leads to social instability, resource conflicts and forced migration. In this context, the need for a global and national legal framework to manage resources, protect the environment and promote climate justice is increasingly urgent. IDLO recognizes that the rule of law is crucial to realizing international climate commitments and ensuring that environmental policies are implemented fairly and transparently, without leaving behind the most vulnerable groups.
Another important challenge shaping the global landscape is the rapid development of technology and digital governance. The fourth industrial revolution, with its artificial intelligence, big data, biotechnology and automation, is dramatically changing all aspects of life. However, along with the opportunities for development, technology also raises many legal and ethical issues: data privacy, cybersecurity, digital platform governance, as well as the risk of increasing inequality between those who have access to technology and those who are excluded from the digital process. In addition, the spread of disinformation and cybercrime is also threatening the integrity of democratic institutions and the safety of citizens. In that context, IDLO aims to develop programs to support member countries in building adaptive legal and institutional frameworks, in order to both take advantage of the benefits of digital technology and ensure that human rights, especially the right to privacy and the right to access accurate information, are strictly protected.
In addition, the global context has been profoundly affected by health and humanitarian crises. The COVID-19 pandemic is a clear demonstration that legal and judicial systems need to be better prepared to respond to emergencies. In many countries, measures to control the pandemic have led to restrictions on human rights, from freedom of movement to privacy, sometimes without effective legal oversight. Lessons learned from the pandemic highlight the need to strengthen emergency legal systems in line with international human rights standards. IDLO 2025–2028 aims to help countries build legal capacity to respond flexibly to crises, ensuring a balance between public security and fundamental human rights.
Synthesizing the above aspects, it can be seen that the current global context is a complex intersection of many challenges and opportunities. Increasing inequality, environmental crisis, political conflicts, technological advances and non-traditional security threats have posed an urgent need to strengthen the rule of law at both the international and national levels. The rule of law is both a tool to ensure order, stability and justice, and a foundation for countries to successfully implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this context, IDLO developed the Strategy 2025–2028 as a comprehensive strategic response, aiming to position the organization as an important actor in connecting the rule of law with development goals, while supporting member states to adapt to global fluctuations.
2. IDLO's strategic vision and mission for the period 2025–2028
In the process of policy and strategy planning, clearly defining the vision and mission is a core element that helps guide actions, allocate resources and strengthen the organization's identity. For the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), the strategic vision and mission for the period 2025–2028 not only reflects the organization's commitment to the rule of law, but also strongly affirms the essential role of law in creating a just, peaceful and sustainable world. In the complex global context with many threats to justice and human rights, IDLO has chosen a strategic orientation that is comprehensive, inclusive and linked to universal values that the international community pursues.
IDLO’s strategic vision for the period 2025–2028 is defined as creating a world where the rule of law does not exist only on paper, but becomes a solid foundation for justice, human rights, peace and sustainable development. In that vision, the rule of law is not limited to the purely legal sphere, but is seen as a multidimensional tool, closely linked to politics, economics, society and the environment. This reflects the shift in IDLO’s strategic thinking: from focusing mainly on legal reform and judicial institution building, the organization has expanded its scope of activities to the fields of sustainable development, gender equality, digital governance and climate change response. In this way, the strategic vision clearly demonstrates IDLO’s desire to become a bridge between the rule of law and urgent global issues, contributing to the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
In line with its vision, IDLO’s strategic mission for the period 2025–2028 emphasizes four main aspects. First, the organization is committed to supporting member countries in strengthening their legal institutional capacity, aiming to build transparent, fair and adaptive legal systems. This stems from the fact that many developing countries still face difficulties in maintaining an independent judiciary, ensuring effective administration of justice and preventing corruption. IDLO, through its technical assistance programs, policy advice and professional training , aims to create a solid legal foundation, helping countries address internal challenges and integrate into the international legal system.
Second, IDLO affirms its mission to promote equal and inclusive access to justice for all people, especially vulnerable groups. Women, children, indigenous peoples, migrants and people with disabilities often face many legal, economic and social barriers in accessing justice. Therefore, IDLO's new strategy focuses on reforming discriminatory legal regulations and promoting community justice models that are close to people's lives. This is not only a human rights-oriented approach, but also demonstrates inclusive development thinking - a core element of sustainable development.
Third, IDLO’s mission also emphasizes the integration of the rule of law into global sustainable development strategies. The organization recognizes that challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, economic inequality, or health crises cannot be fully addressed without a strong, fair, and transparent legal system. Therefore, IDLO aims to support countries in enacting and enforcing environmental laws, natural resource management laws, and regulations that ensure transparency in public management. This integration not only helps countries achieve Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions, but also contributes to the implementation of other goals such as poverty reduction (SDG 1), gender equality (SDG 5), climate action (SDG 13), and global cooperation (SDG 17).
Fourth, IDLO considers responding to new challenges of the digital age and global crises as part of its strategic mission. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, with the rise of artificial intelligence, big data and biotechnology, poses an urgent need for an effective regulatory legal framework that still ensures human rights. IDLO is committed to supporting countries in developing appropriate digital governance laws and institutions, in order to both take advantage of the benefits of technology and ensure safety and fairness for citizens. In addition, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the lesson of law in emergency situations has been incorporated into IDLO's strategic vision, with the goal of building emergency legal capacity based on human rights principles, avoiding the recurrence of arbitrary restrictions on citizens' rights.
A notable point in IDLO’s strategic vision and mission is the close connection between global values and local contexts. IDLO does not impose a single legal model for every country, but respects the diversity of cultures, traditions and political systems. This is reflected in the motto “rule of law for and with the people”, which emphasizes community participation in the process of law-making and enforcement. Thanks to this flexible approach, IDLO can both maintain international standards on human rights and adapt to the practical conditions of each country.
From an academic perspective, IDLO’s strategic vision and mission reflect the shift in global legal and governance from a “purely national law” model to a “rule of law linked to sustainable development” model. This shows that the rule of law is no longer just a tool of the state, but has become a multi-layered platform connecting the government, civil society, the private sector and the international community. IDLO’s strategic orientation 2025–2028, therefore, can be considered a typical example of how the rule of law is redefined in the era of globalization and integration.
In short, IDLO’s strategic vision and mission for the period 2025–2028 clearly demonstrate a comprehensive and progressive orientation, placing the rule of law at the center of justice, human rights and sustainable development. This is not only a guideline for the organization’s specific activities in the next four years, but also an affirmation of the value that IDLO wants to contribute to the international community: a world where justice is not just an ideal, but becomes a living reality in the daily lives of every human being.
3. IDLO's strategic pillars for the period 2025–2028
In every strategic plan, identifying key pillars plays a role in shaping the direction of implementation and concretizing the organization’s vision and mission. For IDLO, the 2025–2028 period is built on four main pillars: (i) strengthening the rule of law and enhancing judicial capacity; (ii) promoting equitable and inclusive access to justice; (iii) integrating the rule of law with sustainable development and responding to global challenges; (iv) enhancing organizational capacity and expanding strategic partnerships. These four pillars do not exist in isolation, but are interconnected and complementary, reflecting IDLO’s systemic approach to the rule of law in a complex global context.
Pillar 1: Strengthening the rule of law and judicial capacity. This is the fundamental foundation of all IDLO action programs, because a weak legal system that lacks independence and transparency cannot ensure justice and sustainable development. Reality shows that many developing countries are facing rampant corruption, limited judicial capacity, overlapping and unworkable legal frameworks. IDLO aims to address these problems at the root by supporting the drafting, amendment and harmonization of legal documents; at the same time, providing intensive training for judges, prosecutors, lawyers and judicial officers. The organization also focuses on promoting the independence of the judiciary, building monitoring and accountability mechanisms to strengthen social trust in justice. This pillar is crucial, because without a strong legal institution, any efforts on human rights, development or the environment will hardly achieve lasting results.
Pillar Two: Promoting equitable and inclusive access to justice. A society can only be considered to be governed by the rule of law when all individuals, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion or economic status, enjoy equal access to justice. However, many barriers still exist that leave millions of people, especially vulnerable groups, outside the legal system. IDLO will implement a number of initiatives in the period 2025–2028 to eliminate these inequalities, from legal reforms to remove discriminatory provisions, to developing community justice models and informal mediation mechanisms. IDLO places particular emphasis on the legal empowerment of women and girls, as these are often disadvantaged groups in society. Enhancing access to justice not only has human rights implications, but also contributes to strengthening political and social stability, reducing conflicts and creating the premise for comprehensive development.
Pillar Three: Integrating the Rule of Law into Sustainable Development and Responding to Global Challenges. A prominent feature of IDLO’s 2025–2028 Strategy is the integration of the rule of law into broader development areas, including the economy, environment, health, and technology. The Organization recognizes that sustainable development goals cannot be achieved without a solid legal framework that regulates the behavior of states, businesses, and individuals. For example, in the environmental field, the promulgation and strict enforcement of laws on resource conservation, emissions management, and climate change response are prerequisites for protecting the planet. In the economic field, antitrust, financial transparency, and anti-money laundering regulations play a role in maintaining market fairness. In the health field, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, laws need to be developed to balance individual rights with the need to protect public health. IDLO also focuses on the governance of technology in the digital age: building a legal framework to regulate artificial intelligence, protect personal data and prevent cybercrime. By integrating the rule of law into global issues, IDLO demonstrates that law is not only a tool for social management, but also a driving force shaping sustainable development.
Fourth pillar: Strengthening organizational capacity and expanding strategic partnerships. IDLO itself, as an international organization, needs to continuously innovate to meet the increasing demands of the global context. The 2025–2028 Strategy focuses on improving internal management capacity, enhancing the efficiency of resource use and ensuring transparency in operations. In parallel, IDLO focuses on expanding diverse partnerships – from UN organizations, development banks, regional organizations, to civil society and the private sector. The strength of the rule of law cannot come from a single organization, but requires multi-level and multi-stakeholder cooperation. Through a wide network of partners, IDLO can expand its sphere of influence, share experiences and mobilize financial and knowledge resources to implement large-scale programs. This pillar shows that IDLO is not only a technical implementing organization, but also a global actor, contributing to shaping the discourse and policy on the rule of law at the international level.
The distinctive feature of IDLO’s four strategic pillars is their interconnectedness and complementarity. Strengthening the rule of law (pillar 1) lays the foundation for inclusive access to justice (pillar 2); access to justice contributes to strengthening social consensus, thereby effectively supporting the integration of the rule of law into sustainable development (pillar 3); and all three pillars require a dynamic, effective and open-minded IDLO (pillar 4). This structure reflects the systemic and global thinking in rule of law governance, and also shows how IDLO approaches issues in a practical manner without detaching from its strategic vision.
From an academic perspective, IDLO’s four strategic pillars can be seen as a concretization of the theory of “rule of law for development”. This theory holds that the rule of law not only serves the pure goal of justice, but is also a tool to promote socio-economic development and protect human rights values. During the period 2025–2028, IDLO has applied this theory into practice by connecting law with areas such as environment, technology and gender equality. This is an important step, helping IDLO go beyond the scope of a purely legal organization to become a multidisciplinary knowledge and practice center, capable of creating lasting influence on a global scale.
4. Solutions and methods for implementing IDLO's Strategy 2025–2028
To realize the four strategic pillars, IDLO in the period 2025-2028 identifies a comprehensive system of solutions and implementation methods, combining the organization's internal innovation and strengthening multilateral cooperation. First of all, IDLO attaches importance to improving research and policy-making capacity, through the development of in-depth reports, comparative analysis of international and national laws, as well as the development of an open database on rule of law practices. This is the foundation for the organization to provide evidence-based policy recommendations, ensuring scientific validity and feasibility when supporting member countries. In addition, IDLO strongly implements judicial training and capacity building programs, focusing not only on legal knowledge but also on management skills, digital technology and professional ethics, in order to build a team of professional, independent and honest judicial officials.
In parallel with training, IDLO promotes the application of information technology and digital transformation in judicial activities. E-courts, digital records systems and online dispute resolution platforms will be encouraged to be applied, thereby shortening the time to process cases, reducing costs and expanding access to justice, especially for people in remote areas. This is also a solution to adapt to the rapid changes of the digital age, while ensuring that technology is used in a humane way, in compliance with human rights standards. In addition, IDLO focuses on strengthening the monitoring mechanism, transparency and accountability in the legal and judicial system, through supporting the development of independent inspection bodies, information disclosure regulations and effective complaint mechanisms.
In terms of implementation, IDLO promotes a multi-layered and multi-partner approach. At the global level, the organization works closely with the United Nations, development banks and regional mechanisms to integrate the rule of law into the sustainable development agenda. At the national level, IDLO works directly with state agencies, while encouraging the participation of civil society, the private sector and local communities. This is an “inclusive” approach, ensuring that all voices are heard and all legal needs are reflected in the reform process. At the same time, IDLO focuses on monitoring and evaluating results with a system of quantitative and qualitative indicators, allowing for measuring the actual impact of programs, thereby promptly adjusting the implementation strategy.
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.
IDLO'S OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS IN DEVELOPING AND TRANSITION COUNTRIES
In the current global picture, developing and transitional countries play a particularly important role. These are the regions with the largest proportion of the world's population, and are also where most of the challenges related to poverty, inequality, armed conflicts, climate change and the lack of strong legal institutions are concentrated. In that context, strengthening the rule of law foundation becomes an urgent requirement, because the law is not only a tool to maintain social order, but also a driving force to promote socio-economic development, ensure human rights, as well as enhance people's trust in the state and institutions. This is also where the International Organization for the Development of Law (IDLO) clearly demonstrates its role, mission and outstanding contributions over the past decades.
As the only intergovernmental organization in the world with a specific mission to promote the rule of law and strengthen the rule of law, IDLO has affirmed its position in supporting developing and transitional countries, where legal institutions are often incomplete or fragile. Through specific programs and projects, IDLO helps these countries build, reform and strengthen legal systems, strengthen judicial capacity, expand access to justice, promote gender equality, protect human rights, and support the international integration process. These contributions are not only technical assistance in nature, but also act as a lever to help countries overcome the vicious cycle of poverty, conflict and instability towards sustainable development.
1. Overview of the context of developing and transition countries
In the contemporary international order, developing and transition countries occupy an extremely important position, both because of their population size and territory and because of the diversity and complexity of the challenges they face. These are countries mostly located in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe, where many development opportunities converge but at the same time contain countless contradictions, instabilities and barriers on the path towards modernization, social justice and sustainable development. To understand why support from international organizations such as IDLO has become necessary and vital, it is necessary to first take a comprehensive look at the political, economic, social and legal context of these countries, thereby seeing the urgent needs in strengthening the rule of law and reforming legal institutions.
The term “developing country” is often used to refer to countries with low or middle income per capita, an economy that relies heavily on agriculture or natural resources, underdeveloped infrastructure, limited science and technology, and a low standard of living for the majority of the population. These countries account for about two-thirds of the world’s population, and despite the large differences in development levels between regions, they still share many common characteristics such as rapid urbanization without sustainable planning, a clear gap between rich and poor, inadequate health and education systems, and a high dependence on foreign investment and aid flows. Meanwhile, the term “transitional country” often refers to countries that once operated under a centrally planned economic model, or were dominated by an authoritarian political regime, and are now in the process of transitioning to a market economy and a more democratic political system. This transition is often accompanied by profound political, economic and social instability, requiring comprehensive reforms, in which legal reform and the building of a rule-of-law state play a key role.
Economically, most developing countries still face a vicious cycle of poverty and underdevelopment. Economic growth, if any, is often unsustainable, based on the exploitation of natural resources or low value-added processing industries. When the world market fluctuates, these economies are vulnerable, leading to macroeconomic instability, inflation, unemployment and trade imbalances. Weak infrastructure , from transportation systems, electricity, water, to information technology, seriously hinders the process of industrialization and modernization. In addition, the burden of public debt and dependence on foreign loans make many governments lose the initiative in policy making. In transition countries, the situation is no better: the shift from centrally planned to market economies often gives rise to corruption, opaque privatization, and vested interests, which widen the gap between rich and poor and undermine social trust.
Socially, these countries often have young populations with rapid population growth, but the quality of human resources is not high due to many shortcomings in the education system. The situation of spontaneous migration, labor migration and migration due to conflicts and natural disasters is increasing, creating great pressure on urban areas and social welfare systems. In many places, gender inequality is still common, women and children are often disadvantaged in access to education, health care, employment and property rights. Other vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and indigenous communities, are often marginalized by the legal and social systems. The gap between rich and poor not only creates social injustice, but also creates the seeds of political instability and potential conflict.
Another major challenge is armed conflict, political violence and internal instability. Many developing countries are located in regions with a long history of war, civil war or territorial disputes. Conflicts not only destroy infrastructure, cause casualties and displacement, but also undermine the legal system, causing people’s trust in justice to almost collapse. In this context, rebuilding and restoring the rule of law becomes a prerequisite to healing the wounds of war, establishing social order and paving the way for long-term development.
On the political and institutional front, many developing countries face problems such as lack of transparency, weak governance, rampant corruption and political interference in the judicial system. Judicial agencies, instead of operating independently and impartially, often become tools serving the interests of a small ruling group. Shortages in human resources, infrastructure and finance also make the legal system unable to meet the needs of society. In transition countries, the process of democratization and building new institutions often encounters resistance from conservative forces, along with a lack of experience in governance and policy making, leading to instability and a crisis of confidence.
In terms of law, weaknesses are manifested at many levels: lack of uniformity in the system of legal documents; contradictions and overlaps between laws; lack of transparency in the promulgation process and low participation of the people. In many countries, laws exist on paper but are not effectively enforced; the situation of “two-sided law” – where one side is the official system issued by the state, the other side is customary law, religion or informal mechanisms – creates inconsistency in the application of law. This not only reduces the effectiveness of social management, but also hinders the development of the economy and the guarantee of human rights.
In the context of globalization, developing and transitional countries are also facing integration pressure. Participation in international trade agreements and joining regional and global organizations requires them to have a legal system that is in line with international standards. However, the process of internalizing international commitments faces many difficulties due to the lack of legal human resources, technical capacity and complexity in institutional coordination. As a result, many countries fall into a state of "importing law" without the ability to apply it effectively, leading to a large gap between the law on paper and the law in practice.
All of the above issues show that the rule of law is a key factor in fundamentally solving the challenges facing developing and transitional countries. Without a transparent, fair and enforceable legal system, it is impossible to guarantee human rights, promote equality, or encourage investment and economic development. The rule of law is not only a legal value, but also the foundation of political stability and social order. It creates people's trust in the state, encourages civil society participation, and opens up opportunities for countries to integrate equally into the international community.
In this context, the need for support from international organizations becomes extremely urgent. Organizations like IDLO not only bring experience, expertise and resources, but also contribute to ensuring that the legal reform process takes place in a way that is consistent with international standards, but at the same time respects the context and real needs of each country. IDLO’s presence in developing and transition countries is therefore not simply technical support, but also an affirmation by the international community of the importance of the rule of law in the process of sustainable development and global integration.
2. IDLO's prominent areas of activity in developing and transition countries
In the development and integration process of developing and transitional countries, IDLO's role is most clearly demonstrated through the specific areas of activities that this organization has been implementing. With the mission of promoting the rule of law, strengthening the legal system and enhancing institutional capacity, IDLO not only provides technical support to the government but also brings practical changes to the lives of people, especially vulnerable groups. These activities are implemented in many different areas, from judicial reform, enhancing access to justice, promoting gender equality and human rights, to supporting governance in crisis or building laws for economic development. All of these have created a comprehensive picture, in which IDLO plays the role of a bridge, catalyst and driving force for countries to gradually build a strong rule of law state, as a foundation for sustainable development.
First of all, it can be seen that reforming and strengthening the judicial system has always been one of IDLO's top priorities in developing and transitional countries. A weak, independent and transparent judicial system not only undermines the effectiveness of state governance but also directly hinders the development process, because people cannot trust in justice if the courts and prosecution agencies operate unfairly. Therefore, IDLO regularly implements training and capacity building programs for judges, lawyers, prosecutors and legal officers. The courses focus not only on professional knowledge but also on professional ethics, independent adjudication skills, as well as how to handle cases related to human rights and vulnerable groups. In Afghanistan, for example, thousands of judges and lawyers have been trained by IDLO in the context of the country emerging from conflict, helping to form a generation of legal officers capable of shouldering the responsibility of restoring justice. In Kenya, the organization works with the court system to modernize the trial process, introducing information technology into case management, thereby significantly reducing the backlog of cases while also increasing transparency and accountability. These examples show that strengthening the justice system is not just a technical or procedural matter, but is also an important step in restoring trust in the state and the law in places that have been eroded by corruption, instability and abuse of power.
In parallel with judicial reform, IDLO also pays special attention to improving access to justice for all classes of people, especially vulnerable groups . A common reality in many developing countries is that laws exist mainly on paper, while the majority of people – especially the poor, women, children, ethnic minorities or people with disabilities – have almost no access to judicial services due to high costs, complicated procedures and geographical distance. Recognizing this gap, IDLO has implemented many initiatives to expand the network of free or low-cost legal aid, bringing legal services closer to the community. In Mongolia, the organization has cooperated with the government to set up legal advice centers in remote areas where people previously had little access to lawyers. In Honduras, IDLO develops programs to assist victims of gender-based violence, especially women and children, to help them file lawsuits and receive legal protection in court. These efforts contribute to making the concept of “justice for all” a reality, rather than just a slogan in political documents.
Another prominent area of IDLO’s work is promoting gender equality and ensuring human rights within the legal framework . In many developing countries, gender inequality remains a major barrier to development. Women often lack equal access to education, land, credit and career opportunities; they are often denied inheritance rights or are treated unfairly in the legal system. IDLO recognizes that a society cannot develop sustainably if half of its population is excluded from the development process. Therefore, the organization always integrates gender elements into legal reform programs and encourages women’s participation in the judicial system. In Nepal, IDLO has implemented a support program to increase the number of female judges and lawyers and raise public awareness about women’s equal rights. In African countries, the organization promotes the amendment of family, marriage and inheritance laws to remove discriminatory provisions. Not only stopping at the legal aspect, IDLO also focuses on changing social thinking, affirming the equal role of women in public and private life, thereby creating long-term positive changes.
In addition to its day-to-day activities, IDLO also stands out for its role in supporting the maintenance of the rule of law in times of crisis . In many developing countries, crises can come from armed conflicts, terrorism, natural disasters, global pandemics, or political instability. These upheavals often paralyze the legal system, causing the delivery of justice to stagnate. IDLO has been intervening in a timely manner to ensure that even in times of crisis, the rule of law is maintained. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has supported many countries in developing responsive legal frameworks that balance the protection of public health and respect for basic human rights. In Somalia and Afghanistan, where war and violence have persisted, IDLO has participated in developing new laws, establishing community reconciliation mechanisms, and supporting the maintenance of the judiciary. These efforts are not only aimed at restoring social order in the short term, but also at laying the foundation for long-term post-crisis reconstruction.
In addition, another important area of IDLO's activities is to support the development of economic, trade and investment laws , to facilitate integration and development. Many countries in transition from planned to market economies often lack a transparent legal framework to regulate economic activities. This hinders investment, destabilizes the market and limits development potential. IDLO supports governments in drafting, reviewing and promulgating laws related to trade, enterprises, contracts and investment, in accordance with international practices. Thanks to that, countries can build a stable and transparent legal environment, creating confidence for domestic and foreign investors. In Myanmar, IDLO has previously participated in supporting the development of important economic laws, paving the way for integration into the ASEAN region and the global market. In Central Asian countries, this organization has helped improve the legal system of contracts and commercial arbitration, creating effective dispute resolution mechanisms, contributing to promoting regional trade.
An equally important aspect is institutional capacity building and public administration . IDLO understands that for the law to truly come to life, there must be strong enough institutions to implement, monitor and enforce it. Therefore, this organization supports state agencies, from the Ministry of Justice, Parliament to local judiciary agencies, in improving their capacity to make legal policies, manage the judicial system and monitor law enforcement. Building strong institutions also means reducing corruption, improving accountability and ensuring that state decisions are made based on the law rather than group interests. In many African countries, IDLO has supported legislative bodies in organizing public consultations, gathering community opinions before promulgating laws, thereby enhancing transparency and civil society participation . This is a necessary step to strengthen trust between the state and the people - a core element of the rule of law.
In general, the above areas of IDLO's activities do not exist in isolation but are linked together into a unified whole, complementing each other and working towards the common goal of strengthening the rule of law. Judicial reform helps to strengthen the independence and effectiveness of the court system; expanding access to justice helps all people, including vulnerable groups, to protect their legitimate rights; promoting gender equality and human rights ensures that fairness is not only formal but also substantive; legal assistance in crisis helps countries maintain the rule of law even in extraordinary situations; building economic legislation creates a stable environment for development; and improving institutional capacity and public governance ensures that all these achievements can be sustained. That is the comprehensiveness and uniqueness of IDLO's approach: not only addressing a single aspect, but focusing on the entire legal ecosystem, from institutions, legal regulations to people and legal culture.
Case studies demonstrate IDLO’s impact. In Afghanistan, despite a volatile political and security environment, IDLO has played a key role in developing the basic legal framework, training thousands of lawyers and judges, and developing legal aid services for the people. In Kenya, the organization has played a role in modernizing the judicial system, providing technological solutions to improve the efficiency of trials. In Somalia, IDLO has helped develop new laws, improve governance, and promote reconciliation, supporting the country on the road to post-conflict reconstruction. In Mongolia, IDLO has contributed to expanding access to justice, especially for people in rural areas, where lack of legal services is a major barrier to citizenship. Each successful case shows that, no matter how difficult the context, IDLO still finds ways to help countries strengthen the rule of law, creating a foundation for development.
Overall, IDLO’s contributions to developing and transitional countries are significant in many ways. First, they help strengthen people’s trust in the legal system, create social cohesion and limit the risk of instability. Second, they contribute to promoting sustainable development, when transparent and fair laws become the foundation for investment, trade and economic development. Third, they play a role in protecting human rights and promoting gender equality, bringing international standards closer to the lives of communities. Finally, these contributions are also of global significance, because a safe, fair and developed world cannot be separated from ensuring the rule of law in each country, especially vulnerable countries.
Looking back on its development, it can be affirmed that IDLO has become an important agent in realizing the rule of law in places where the rule of law is still fragile. Through its diverse activities, this organization not only provides technical assistance, but also inspires confidence and aspiration for justice, helping developing and transitional countries to move more firmly on the path to building a just, peaceful and sustainable society.
In the context of globalization and increasingly deep international integration, the role of law and the rule of law has become a key factor to ensure sustainable, equitable and peaceful development. In the world, many international and regional organizations have been established to promote cooperation between countries in building a transparent, effective and international standard legal system. Among them, the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) is known as the only intergovernmental organization with a specific mission to promote the rule of law for sustainable development.
The introduction of IDLO is not only to help the international community, researchers and policymakers better understand the role, functions and activities of this organization, but also to contribute to affirming the importance of the rule of law in the global development process. IDLO is not a mere non-governmental organization, nor is it just a funding agency, but an international entity with its own legal status, operating through close cooperation with member states, the United Nations and many other development partners.
Over the past three decades of existence and development, IDLO has continuously expanded its scope of activities, supporting dozens of countries in areas such as reforming the judicial system, strengthening the rule of law, promoting gender equality, improving access to justice, and ensuring that the law serves the interests of all people. This organization also plays an important role in supporting developing countries and transition countries, which often face difficulties in building effective, transparent and fair legal systems. In this article, we will learn comprehensively about IDLO, from its history of formation and development, organizational structure and legal status, to its mission, vision, fields of operation and global significance. Through this, it can be clearly seen that IDLO is not only a purely international organization, but also a "companion" of many countries on the path of building and strengthening the rule of law, for a fair, peaceful and sustainable world.
1. The formation and development process of IDLO
At the end of the 20th century, the world witnessed enormous changes in economics, politics and society. The process of globalization, the expansion of international trade, as well as the need for cross-border cooperation, has created an urgent need for effective, transparent and fair legal systems. Many developing countries, as well as countries transitioning from planned to market economies, face many challenges in building a legal framework that meets the requirements of integration. In that context, the idea of establishing an international organization dedicated to supporting legal development and promoting the rule of law was formed. This idea is based on the realization that, to develop sustainably, a country needs not only financial and technological resources, but also a solid legal foundation to ensure fairness, stability and transparency in national governance.
1.1. Establishment and early years of operation
In 1983, an international legal training program was initiated in Rome, Italy, with the participation of international law experts and support from the Italian Government. This program later became the foundation for the establishment of the International Development Legal Organization (IDLO). By 1988, IDLO was officially established as an independent international organization. In 1989, the organization began implementing its first projects, focusing on training and improving legal capacity for developing countries. The birth of IDLO marked an important turning point, as it is the only intergovernmental organization in the world with a specific mission to promote the rule of law for development. In the early years, IDLO focused heavily on training lawyers, judges and legal officials from developing countries, especially in Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. These training courses, held at the Rome headquarters, provide thousands of students with access to knowledge of international law, international trade, dispute resolution and legal reform.
1.2. Stage of expansion and role affirmation (1990–2000)
The 1990s were a period of great world upheaval: the collapse of the Soviet Union, the transition in Eastern Europe, and the boom in global trade. In that context, IDLO rapidly expanded its activities, not only stopping at training but also directly participating in legal and judicial reform programs. Many countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, after escaping the socialist mechanism, received support from IDLO in building constitutions, court systems, and important codes such as commercial law, investment law, and civil law. In Africa, IDLO implemented programs to strengthen the rule of law, fight corruption, and protect human rights. IDLO's growth during this period was also demonstrated by the establishment of official cooperative relations with the United Nations and many other international development organizations. IDLO gradually became recognized as a strategic partner in global development programs.
1.3. International cooperation and position affirmation (2000–2010)
Entering the 21st century, IDLO has become one of the prestigious organizations in the field of rule of law and development. In 2001, IDLO signed a cooperation agreement with the United Nations, officially becoming a recognized partner in the system of international organizations. During this period, IDLO focused on three major areas: (i) reforming the legal and judicial system, (ii) enhancing legal capacity for countries, (iii) promoting the rule of law as a pillar of sustainable development. The organization also expanded its cooperation network with many governments, non-governmental organizations, research institutes and universities around the world. In the following years, IDLO actively participated in legal assistance activities in crisis situations, such as rebuilding the legal system in post-war Afghanistan, or supporting Latin American countries in the fight against organized crime.
1.4. Modernization and deep integration period (2010 to present)
Since 2010, IDLO has entered a new phase of development, which is more strategic and comprehensive. In 2011, IDLO was granted permanent observer status at the United Nations General Assembly – an important milestone demonstrating international recognition of the organization’s role. During this period, IDLO has focused strongly on linking the rule of law with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In particular, SDG16 on “peace, justice and strong institutions” is considered the focus of IDLO’s activities. In addition, IDLO has also adapted to the new context of the world, including the challenges of climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, transnational migration and international conflicts. The organization has implemented many initiatives to ensure that law and justice are not interrupted even in emergency situations.
From a small training program in Rome, IDLO has grown into an international organization with far-reaching influence, with a network of activities spanning many continents. This organization has made an important contribution to enhancing the legal capacity of countries, consolidating the rule of law, and promoting international cooperation in the field of law. Today, IDLO is recognized as a “bridge” between countries, a center of expertise on the rule of law, and a trusted partner of the United Nations as well as many development organizations. The history of the formation and development of IDLO is a clear demonstration of the essential role of law in the development of humanity.
2. Legal status, members and organizational structure
2.1. Legal status of IDLO
IDLO is an independent intergovernmental organization (IGO), established based on international agreements between member countries. Unlike non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or independent research institutes, IDLO has full international legal status, recognized in international diplomatic and legal relations. This allows IDLO to: Sign agreements and cooperation agreements with countries, international organizations and United Nations agencies; Enjoy diplomatic immunity and privileges according to international standards for intergovernmental organizations; Act as an independent entity in project implementation, financial and human resource management. Possessing an independent international legal status helps IDLO become a reliable bridge, able to coordinate, monitor and support rule of law programs in many different countries, including those with complex political and social situations.
2.2. IDLO Members
Currently, IDLO has more than 30 member countries from different regions of the world. IDLO's membership includes both developed and developing countries, creating diversity and global representation.
- Europe: Italy, Netherlands, France, Spain, Norway…
- Asia-Pacific: China, Pakistan, Philippines, Mongolia…
- Africa: Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Egypt…
- Latin America and the Caribbean: Chile, Mexico, Honduras…
- Middle East: Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait…
2.3. IDLO's governance structure
IDLO's governance structure is designed on the principles of democracy, transparency and efficiency, ensuring that all important decisions are made with the participation of member states.
- Assembly of Parties: This is the highest decision-making body of IDLO, comprising representatives of all member countries. The Assembly meets regularly to discuss and approve strategic policies, budget plans, activity reports, and decide on the admission of new members. The Assembly also has the power to appoint the Director General of IDLO.
- Board of Directors (Standing Committee or Executive Council): Is a permanent body, elected from the Board of Members, responsible for supervising the daily operations of the organization and supporting the General Director in management and operation. The Board of Directors usually consists of a limited number of countries representing different regions, to ensure geographical balance.
- Director-General: The Director-General is the head of the Secretariat, responsible for the overall management of the organization. This is the most important position in terms of management, with a term decided by the Board of Members (usually 4 years). The Director-General is also the legal and political representative of IDLO in relations with international organizations and countries.
- Secretariat: Is an administrative, technical and professional body, responsible for implementing the decisions of the Council and the Board of Directors. The Secretariat includes specialized departments in law, research, finance, human resource management, international cooperation, communications, etc.
As an independent intergovernmental organization, IDLO has a special relationship with the United Nations. In 2011, IDLO was officially granted permanent observer status at the United Nations General Assembly. This is an important legal and political basis for IDLO to participate in discussions, contribute opinions and coordinate the implementation of programs within the framework of the global agenda. In addition, IDLO also cooperates closely with many other international organizations such as the World Bank, the European Union (EU), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), as well as non-governmental organizations, research institutes and universities. This diverse coordination ensures that IDLO can mobilize financial, knowledge and technical resources to serve member countries effectively.
It can be seen that the independent international legal status, the diversity of its members and the tight organizational structure have created a solid foundation for IDLO's activities. This is a difference compared to many other international organizations, helping IDLO to have both global representation and the ability to act flexibly and effectively. Thanks to its transparent governance mechanism, close coordination with the United Nations and partners, and a network of offices spread across the globe, IDLO has been affirming its position as a leading international organization in the field of the rule of law for sustainable development.
3. Mission, vision and core values
3.1. IDLO's Mission
Since its inception, IDLO has defined its core mission as “promoting the rule of law for development and justice”. This mission reflects the common understanding that a society can only develop sustainably when it is based on the rule of law – that is, the law must be respected, fair, transparent and applied equally to all citizens.
Specifically, IDLO aims to:
- Support countries in building and strengthening strong legal and judicial systems.
- Ensure that legal institutions contribute directly to socio-economic development and the protection of human rights.
- Promote participation and access to justice for all, especially vulnerable groups such as women, children, the poor or vulnerable communities.
- Contribute to global efforts to build a rules-based international order.
3.2. Long-term vision
IDLO's vision is a world where everyone can live in justice, peace and sustainable development, guaranteed by the rule of law.
This vision can be concretized through three aspects:
- Justice for all: IDLO aspires to build a world where no one is excluded from the justice system, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, economic circumstances or social status.
- Rule of law for development: The rule of law is not only a political principle, but also the foundation for sustainable economic and social development. Strong legal institutions help attract investment, promote trade, protect natural resources and ensure the rights of future generations.
- Peace and stability: The rule of law is a prerequisite for resolving conflicts, preventing violence and building trust between communities. IDLO believes that a rules-based international order will ensure lasting peace.
IDLO's activities are guided by a number of core values, which can be seen as a compass for all of the organization's programs and projects:
- Rule of law: This is the central value, the guiding principle throughout. All activities of IDLO aim to ensure that laws are built transparently, enforced fairly and applied equally.
- Justice and human rights: IDLO emphasizes human rights as an integral part of the rule of law. Its programs are always linked to the goal of protecting and promoting human rights.
- Gender equality: IDLO considers gender equality a core principle, not only in the legal field but also in all aspects of social life. Many of IDLO’s programs focus on supporting women’s participation in the judicial system and access to justice.
- International cooperation: IDLO believes that the rule of law can only be strengthened through multilateral cooperation and dialogue between states, international organizations and civil society.
- Sustainability: All of IDLO's activities are linked to the goal of long-term development, balancing economic growth, environmental protection and social equity.
- Transparency and accountability: As an international organization, IDLO is committed to operating transparently, managing finances effectively and being accountable to its member states and the international community.
4. IDLO's main areas of operation
As the only intergovernmental organization dedicated to the rule of law for sustainable development, IDLO works across a wide range of areas, reflecting the interconnectedness of law, justice and development. These areas are not only diverse in content but also global in nature, tailored to the needs of individual countries and the international community.
4.1. Reform and strengthen the judicial system
One of IDLO’s major focuses is legal and judicial reform. Many countries, especially those in the developing or transitional stage, struggle to build an independent, effective and fair judicial system. IDLO has supported:
- Building and amending laws: from the constitution, civil law, criminal law, commercial law to specialized codes.
- Training of judges, lawyers, prosecutors and judicial officers: to improve professional qualifications, professional ethics and the ability to apply law in practice.
- Improve procedural and adjudicatory processes: to ensure transparency, speed and efficiency, while minimizing corruption.
- Application of information technology in the judiciary: helps the court system become more modern, making it easier for people to access justice.
4.2. Promoting gender equality and women's empowerment
Gender equality is one of IDLO’s strategic priorities. The organization recognizes that, in many countries, women face barriers to accessing justice and participating in the legal system. Therefore, IDLO focuses on:
- Eliminate legal and social barriers for women: through promoting reforms in marriage law, labor law, inheritance law, etc. to ensure equal rights for women.
- Encourage women to participate in the justice system: through training, career support and incentive policies.
- Strengthening legal services for women and girls: empowering them to defend their rights, especially in cases involving domestic violence, discrimination or sexual abuse.
4.3. Legal support in socio-economic development
The rule of law is not only linked to justice but also an important driving force for economic development. IDLO focuses on creating a favorable legal environment for trade, investment and economic governance, through the following activities:
- Support in building investment law, commercial law, competition law, bankruptcy law...
- Legal advice to improve the business environment and reduce legal risks for businesses.
- Develop mechanisms for resolving commercial disputes, including arbitration and conciliation.
- Support legal reform in the fields of natural resources, land management and environment, to ensure sustainable development.
4.4. Legal support in times of crisis and transition
IDLO is also prominent for its response role in crisis situations where law and justice are often disrupted.
- In conflict or post-conflict contexts: IDLO helps countries rebuild legal systems, build transitional justice mechanisms to address the consequences of war and heal societies.
- In global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic: IDLO has recommended a number of legal solutions to ensure that human rights are not violated when applying emergency health measures.
- Responding to climate change: IDLO researches and promotes legal mechanisms to support natural resource management and protect the rights of communities affected by natural disasters and climate change.
4.5. Research, training and capacity building
In addition to directly assisting countries, IDLO is also an international legal research and training center. It regularly organizes:
- Publish research reports on rule of law, human rights, development law and emerging issues.
- Organize international seminars and forums, creating a space for dialogue between lawmakers, scholars and judicial experts.
- Train thousands of legal professionals from many countries, help them access international legal standards and share experiences.
5. The global significance and role of IDLO
In more than three decades of operation, IDLO has demonstrated that the rule of law is not just an abstract concept of justice, but also a practical foundation for building a stable, developed and sustainable society. IDLO's global significance and role can be seen on many levels.
- Contributing to the consolidation of international peace and stability: In many post-conflict countries, the legal system is often broken or severely weakened. The presence of IDLOs in these stages not only supports the reconstruction of the legal basis, but also helps to build people's trust in the state and the justice system. Such trust is the foundation for healing social divisions, preventing the resurgence of violence , and moving towards lasting peace. IDLOs can therefore be considered "institution builders" in the international peace process.
- Linking the rule of law with sustainable development: Unlike many organizations that only focus on economic or humanitarian aid, IDLO chooses to support through law. This ensures sustainable development results, because law creates a long-term institutional framework for governance and social justice. In the context of globalization, IDLO's role becomes even more important when many countries need: Transparent commercial law systems to attract investment; Effective environmental laws to protect resources; Human rights laws to promote equality and justice. Thus, IDLO is the bridge between economic development, social justice and environmental protection - the three pillars of sustainable development.
- Promoting the implementation of international commitments: IDLO is an active partner in realizing the 2030 Agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG16: “Peace, justice and strong institutions”. Through its programs, IDLO contributes to transforming international commitments into concrete actions in each country and territory. In addition, as an observer at the United Nations, IDLO also participates in multilateral forums, makes policy recommendations, and creates conditions for the voices of developing countries to be heard.
- Building a global rule of law community: IDLO's research, training and policy dialogue activities have contributed to the formation of a global network on the rule of law. This network includes judges, lawyers, scholars, experts and civil society organizations from many countries. Thanks to that, legal knowledge and experience are widely shared, promoting international legal integration.
- Deep humanitarian significance: Above all, IDLO’s global role is humanitarian: supporting vulnerable groups – women, children, poor communities, people affected by conflict or climate change – to access justice and protect their rights. It is proof that the law, if properly formulated and enforced, can be a powerful tool to protect human dignity.
RESULTS OF IMPLEMENTING IDLO'S STRATEGIC ORIENTATION 2021–2024
1. IDLO's 2021–2024 Strategic Context and Direction
The period 2021-2024 is considered a turning point for the International Development Organization (IDLO). The formation and implementation of strategic orientations during this period took place in an extremely complex global context with many unprecedented fluctuations, and at the same time witnessed a profound change in the international community's approach to the issue of rule of law, human rights and sustainable development. First of all, we must mention the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic broke out in late 2019 and lasted until 2021-2022, leaving serious consequences in all areas of political, economic and social life. Countries around the world simultaneously faced a public health crisis, overloaded health care systems, a global recession, disrupted supply chains and millions of people falling into poverty. In this emergency, many governments have been forced to adopt extraordinary restrictive measures, from lockdowns, travel bans to strict information controls. Although necessary to protect public health, these measures have also given rise to many controversies about their legality, compliance with international human rights standards and the role of law enforcement in emergency situations. This is one of the issues raised by IDLO: how to support countries in designing a legal framework to respond to the crisis, ensuring both effective epidemic control and respect for basic human rights.
Along with the pandemic, the global political and security situation in 2021-2024 is also full of instability. Armed conflicts, terrorism, violent extremism and forced migration are still fierce in many regions, especially the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe. The Russia-Ukraine conflict that broke out in early 2022 has become one of the biggest events, not only causing casualties and a serious humanitarian crisis, but also shaking the international order, heightening geopolitical tensions and posing an unprecedented challenge to the international rule of law system. Similarly, in many developing countries, political instability, corruption, human rights violations and declining public trust in the government remain prominent issues. In this context, IDLO determined that strengthening the rule of law is not only a mere technical requirement, but also a pillar for maintaining peace, stability and comprehensive development.
On the socio-economic front, the global development gap is widening. While many developed countries are rapidly adopting digital technology, artificial intelligence and green transformation to recover from the pandemic, most poor countries are struggling with debt crises, inflation, unemployment and food security. Vulnerable groups such as women, children, migrants and people with disabilities are further disadvantaged with limited access to justice, social services and development opportunities. This reality shows that the rule of law must be seen as an important tool to reduce inequality, distribute resources fairly and ensure inclusive development. This is also why IDLO focuses its 2021–2024 orientation on promoting inclusive justice and equality, considering it the foundation for building social trust and strengthening the legitimacy of public institutions.
Another special contextual factor for the 2021–2024 period is the rapid increase in non-traditional global challenges, especially climate change and digital transformation. Climate change not only causes extreme natural disasters, livelihood crises and environmental migration, but also poses an urgent need for an international and national legal framework to manage resources, protect the environment and promote climate justice. Meanwhile, the digitalization process and the explosive growth of artificial intelligence, big data and online platforms bring many opportunities but also give rise to a series of new legal issues: privacy, information security, cyber security, digital crime and the risk of spreading disinformation. Many national legal systems have not yet adapted to the speed of technological development, leading to a legal vacuum. Faced with this reality, IDLO recognizes that the rule of law cannot be limited to traditional areas, but must extend to the environmental and technological fields, playing a leading role in regulating, shaping and controlling new global processes.
Against this backdrop, IDLO has clearly defined its strategic direction for the 2021–2024 period. The first focus is on strengthening the rule of law and judicial institutions, focusing on legal reform, enhancing court capacity, ensuring the independence and accountability of the judicial system. The second focus is on promoting equitable and inclusive justice, with a particular emphasis on access to justice for women, girls and vulnerable groups, in order to eliminate all forms of discrimination and create conditions for all citizens to benefit from the legal system. The third focus is on integrating the rule of law with post-pandemic recovery and responding to global challenges, that is, considering the rule of law as a tool to ensure sustainable development, manage health crises, protect the environment, promote gender equality and govern digital technology. In addition, IDLO also sets out an important internal direction: strengthening partnerships and improving organizational capacity, to ensure that the strategy is effectively implemented, with broad coordination with global actors and making the most of the organization's limited resources.
2. Outstanding results achieved in the 2021–2024 period of IDLO
During the 2021–2024 period, IDLO implemented its strategic direction in a global context of unprecedented changes and challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, political crises, economic and environmental instability, as well as rapid changes in technology and digital governance. Against this backdrop, the organization focused its efforts on the strategic priorities it had set: strengthening the rule of law and judicial institutions, promoting inclusive justice and human rights, integrating the rule of law with sustainable development, and expanding global partnerships. The achievements over these four years not only reflect IDLO’s flexibility and adaptability, but also demonstrate its pioneering role in connecting the rule of law with sustainable development issues.
2.1. Strengthening the legal and judicial system
One of IDLO’s most important achievements during this period was the strengthening of the rule of law and judicial capacity in many developing countries. The organization implemented legal assistance, policy advice and professional training programs to help countries build legal systems that are transparent, fair and able to adapt to global challenges.
In Africa , IDLO works with judicial authorities in Somalia, Mali and Kenya to improve judicial capacity, particularly in cases involving women’s rights, children’s rights and natural resources. In Somalia, the organization has supported the development of an interdisciplinary training program for judges, prosecutors and lawyers, which has improved judicial capacity in civil and criminal cases. This training system not only improves legal expertise but also strengthens the independence of the judiciary, reduces the risk of corruption and ensures people’s access to justice.
In Asia , IDLO has implemented legal reform projects in Afghanistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh, focusing on the development of commercial codes, labor codes and laws protecting children’s rights. These projects are accompanied by support for training of judicial officials, advice on monitoring and accountability mechanisms, helping countries adapt to international rule of law standards. As a result, many codes have been updated, narrowing the gap between current laws and international practices, thereby creating a solid legal foundation for socio-economic development.
In Latin America , IDLO works with Peru, Guatemala, and Honduras to support judicial reform and fight corruption. Projects include establishing transparent judicial mechanisms, providing training on professional ethics, and supporting the development of public oversight systems. As a result, many judicial bodies have improved the efficiency of their judiciary, reduced the time it takes to resolve cases, and increased citizen confidence in the legal system.
2.2. Promoting inclusive access to justice and human rights
In addition to strengthening the rule of law, IDLO places special emphasis on ensuring that all citizens, especially vulnerable groups, have access to justice. This is one of its core priorities, as legal inclusion is a prerequisite for maintaining peace and social stability.
In Africa , IDLO implements community justice and informal mediation models in Somalia, Mali and Niger, providing legal assistance to people in rural areas and areas with limited access to courts. This program not only resolves disputes quickly but also increases legal literacy in communities, reducing the risk of conflict and violence.
In Asia , IDLO’s projects in Afghanistan and Bangladesh focus on the rights of women and girls. Legal aid programs for women experiencing domestic violence, litigation support, and community mediation have increased case resolution rates and raised awareness of the rights of women and girls. IDLO also works with civil society organizations to set up legal advice lines, helping vulnerable populations access accurate legal information.
In Latin America , IDLO focuses on protecting the rights of indigenous peoples, migrants, and economically disadvantaged groups. It implements legal aid projects in Guatemala and Honduras and develops community training programs on human rights and the law. These initiatives contribute to conflict reduction, strengthening local mediation capabilities, and improving relations between governments and communities.
2.3. Integrating the rule of law with sustainable development
One of the breakthroughs in the 2021–2024 orientation is IDLO’s integration of the rule of law with the fields of sustainable development and responding to global challenges. The organization recognizes that the rule of law is not only a tool for social management but also a foundation for sustainable development, environmental protection and health crisis prevention. In the environmental field, IDLO implements climate justice programs in Somalia, Kenya, Peru and Honduras. The organization supports the development of legal frameworks on natural resource management, forest land protection and mineral resource exploitation regulation, and advises on transparent monitoring mechanisms. Thanks to that, many environmental projects are implemented in accordance with legal regulations, minimizing resource conflicts and protecting community livelihoods. Regarding health crises, IDLO coordinates with state agencies and international organizations to develop legal recommendations related to COVID-19 prevention. These guidelines help countries strike a balance between pandemic prevention and human rights protection, from managing lockdowns and quarantines to distributing vaccines and ensuring access to healthcare. IDLO also focuses on applying the rule of law in technology governance. Pilot programs in Kenya and Bangladesh on personal data protection laws, cybersecurity and online platform management have contributed to reducing legal risks in the digital environment, while ensuring citizens’ privacy and access to information.
2.4. Expanding partnerships and improving organizational effectiveness
A highlight of the 2021–2024 period is IDLO’s expansion of multilateral partnerships. The organization works closely with the United Nations, development banks, regional organizations, NGOs and local communities to implement rule of law programs. This multi-stakeholder approach helps expand the scope of influence, mobilize resources and share international experiences, while enhancing the inclusiveness and sustainability of rule of law initiatives. IDLO also improves internal organizational capacity through innovation in management processes, increased financial transparency and the adoption of evidence-based monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. These improvements help the organization measure the practical impact of projects and adjust implementation strategies to suit the actual context.
3. Strategic orientation for the period 2025-2028
Based on the achievements, limitations and lessons learned from the 2021–2024 period, IDLO has developed a strategic orientation for the 2025–2028 period with the goal of consolidating its position as an international pioneer in the field of rule of law for sustainable development. This orientation reflects a long-term vision, continuing to connect the rule of law with issues of socio-economic development, human rights, climate change and digital transformation, while emphasizing flexible adaptation to global fluctuations.
The period 2025–2028 is forecast to continue to witness many challenges and opportunities: increasing climate crisis, persistent social inequalities, political conflicts and non-traditional security threats such as cybercrime and new pandemics. At the same time, the digital age, artificial intelligence, big data and green economy open up many development opportunities, but also require a solid legal framework and effective governance. On this basis, IDLO's strategic orientation 2025–2028 sets the main goals of strengthening comprehensive rule of law, expanding access to inclusive justice, integrating rule of law with sustainable development goals and enhancing organizational capacity as well as multilateral partnerships. This orientation is formed based on lessons from the period 2021–2024, in particular the recognition that: rule of law cannot be separated from social, economic and environmental contexts; The application of technology needs to be synchronized with infrastructure and training; and the rule of law project is only sustainable when local capacity is built synchronously. Therefore, the new strategy is systematic, connecting four core pillars, while emphasizing inclusiveness, sustainability and flexibility. The four pillars include:
The first pillar is strengthening the rule of law and judicial capacity . This is the foundation for all other activities, because if legal institutions are weak, non-transparent or lacking independence, all efforts on human rights and sustainable development will be difficult to achieve effectively. IDLO will continue to support the development, revision and harmonization of legal documents, and provide specialized training for judges, prosecutors, lawyers and judicial officers. The organization also focuses on establishing monitoring, transparency and accountability mechanisms, helping to strengthen public trust in the legal system.
The second pillar is promoting equitable and inclusive access to justice . During the period 2025–2028, IDLO will strengthen initiatives to eliminate inequalities in access to justice, particularly targeting women, girls, the poor and vulnerable groups. Community justice, informal mediation and online legal aid programmes will be widely implemented, helping to increase access to justice, reduce social conflicts and strengthen socio-political stability.
The third pillar is integrating the rule of law with sustainable development and responding to global challenges . IDLO recognizes that sustainable development cannot be achieved without the rule of law. Therefore, its programs will link the rule of law with the environment, climate change, digital technology, public health and economic governance. For example, in the environmental field, IDLO will support the development of regulations on natural resource management, environmental protection and climate change response; in the technology field, the organization will promote the rule of law on data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
The fourth pillar is strengthening institutional capacity and expanding partnerships . IDLO aims to strengthen management capacity, improve resource efficiency and transparency in operations, and expand cooperation with the United Nations, development banks, regional organizations, civil society and the private sector. This multi-layered partnership not only expands the scope of influence but also helps to share knowledge and mobilize resources to implement large-scale projects.
The 2025–2028 Vision is not only an action plan but also reflects IDLO’s long-term vision: to transform the rule of law into a tool to promote sustainable development, reduce inequality, protect human rights and respond effectively to global challenges. The strategy also affirms IDLO’s role as a multidisciplinary knowledge and practice center, contributing to shaping rule of law policies on a global scale. The close combination of institutional strengthening, access to justice, sustainable development integration and organizational capacity building reflects a systematic, flexible and inclusive approach, suitable for the fluctuations, challenges and opportunities of today’s world.
IDLO'S STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS 2025–2028: RULE OF LAW FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL RESILIENCE
As the world enters a period of unprecedented change, the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) has established the 2025–2028 Strategy as a framework for action to strengthen the rule of law, promote justice and ensure sustainable development globally. The plan is designed not only to respond to existential challenges such as climate change, health crises, conflicts and inequality, but also to build long-term resilience in legal and governance systems. The ideological foundation of the strategy is the affirmation that the rule of law is not just an end in itself, but a prerequisite for maintaining peace, security and development. Over the past three decades, IDLO has accumulated experience implementing projects in many vulnerable areas, from which it has concluded that only when the rule of law is built to be fair, inclusive and effectively enforced can countries overcome crises and create an environment for sustainable development. The 2025–2028 Strategy is considered a new defining step, both inheriting previous achievements and adjusting to suit the rapidly changing global context.
I. Global context of the 2025–2028 Strategy
The current global context is marked by enormous changes, opening up new opportunities and posing complex challenges for the international legal system and individual countries. On the political and security front, prolonged armed conflicts, the rise of violent extremism, and transnational terrorism are still directly threatening peace and stability in many regions. In addition, humanitarian crises and international migration are increasingly serious, forcing millions of people to leave their homelands in a situation of legal insecurity, vulnerable to exploitation, discrimination and human rights violations. On the other hand, the decline in people's trust in public institutions, especially in the context of some governments using power arbitrarily, violating the rule of law, has led to waves of social protests and increased political instability. It is in this context that IDLO considers strengthening the rule of law and promoting good governance as an urgent priority, to ensure that human rights are respected, justice is done and peace is maintained.
On the socio-economic front, the widening inequality gap is a prominent challenge. Although globalization and the fourth industrial revolution have created significant development achievements, their benefits are not distributed fairly. Many rich countries enjoy high growth rates, while poor countries are still struggling with poverty reduction, food security and lack of basic services. Even within each country, the gap between rich and poor is increasingly fierce, especially in large cities. Vulnerable groups such as women, children, migrants, indigenous people and people with disabilities are often disadvantaged in accessing public services, the judicial system and development opportunities. This situation shows that the rule of law is not only a legal concept, but also a tool to regulate social relations, fairly allocate resources and ensure inclusiveness in development. Therefore, IDLO considers promoting inclusive justice and equality as an important pillar of its 2025–2028 strategy.
On the environmental dimension, climate change has become an existential threat to human security and sustainable development. Rising sea levels, extreme natural disasters, droughts and natural resource degradation are causing livelihood crises for millions of people, especially in coastal countries and vulnerable regions. The environmental crisis is not only an ecological problem, but also leads to social instability, resource conflicts and forced migration. In this context, the need for a global and national legal framework to manage resources, protect the environment and promote climate justice is increasingly urgent. IDLO recognizes that the rule of law is crucial to realizing international climate commitments and ensuring that environmental policies are implemented fairly and transparently, without leaving behind the most vulnerable groups.
Another important challenge shaping the global landscape is the rapid development of technology and digital governance. The fourth industrial revolution, with its artificial intelligence, big data, biotechnology and automation, is dramatically changing all aspects of life. However, along with the opportunities for development, technology also raises many legal and ethical issues: data privacy, cybersecurity, digital platform governance, as well as the risk of increasing inequality between those who have access to technology and those who are excluded from the digital process. In addition, the spread of disinformation and cybercrime is also threatening the integrity of democratic institutions and the safety of citizens. In that context, IDLO aims to develop programs to support member countries in building adaptive legal and institutional frameworks, in order to both take advantage of the benefits of digital technology and ensure that human rights, especially the right to privacy and the right to access accurate information, are strictly protected.
In addition, the global context has been profoundly affected by health and humanitarian crises. The COVID-19 pandemic is a clear demonstration that legal and judicial systems need to be better prepared to respond to emergencies. In many countries, measures to control the pandemic have led to restrictions on human rights, from freedom of movement to privacy, sometimes without effective legal oversight. Lessons learned from the pandemic highlight the need to strengthen emergency legal systems in line with international human rights standards. IDLO 2025–2028 aims to help countries build legal capacity to respond flexibly to crises, ensuring a balance between public security and fundamental human rights.
Synthesizing the above aspects, it can be seen that the current global context is a complex intersection of many challenges and opportunities. Increasing inequality, environmental crisis, political conflicts, technological advances and non-traditional security threats have posed an urgent need to strengthen the rule of law at both the international and national levels. The rule of law is both a tool to ensure order, stability and justice, and a foundation for countries to successfully implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this context, IDLO developed the Strategy 2025–2028 as a comprehensive strategic response, aiming to position the organization as an important actor in connecting the rule of law with development goals, while supporting member states to adapt to global fluctuations.
2. IDLO's strategic vision and mission for the period 2025–2028
In the process of policy and strategy planning, clearly defining the vision and mission is a core element that helps guide actions, allocate resources and strengthen the organization's identity. For the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), the strategic vision and mission for the period 2025–2028 not only reflects the organization's commitment to the rule of law, but also strongly affirms the essential role of law in creating a just, peaceful and sustainable world. In the complex global context with many threats to justice and human rights, IDLO has chosen a strategic orientation that is comprehensive, inclusive and linked to universal values that the international community pursues.
IDLO’s strategic vision for the period 2025–2028 is defined as creating a world where the rule of law does not exist only on paper, but becomes a solid foundation for justice, human rights, peace and sustainable development. In that vision, the rule of law is not limited to the purely legal sphere, but is seen as a multidimensional tool, closely linked to politics, economics, society and the environment. This reflects the shift in IDLO’s strategic thinking: from focusing mainly on legal reform and judicial institution building, the organization has expanded its scope of activities to the fields of sustainable development, gender equality, digital governance and climate change response. In this way, the strategic vision clearly demonstrates IDLO’s desire to become a bridge between the rule of law and urgent global issues, contributing to the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
In line with its vision, IDLO’s strategic mission for the period 2025–2028 emphasizes four main aspects. First, the organization is committed to supporting member countries in strengthening their legal institutional capacity, aiming to build transparent, fair and adaptive legal systems. This stems from the fact that many developing countries still face difficulties in maintaining an independent judiciary, ensuring effective administration of justice and preventing corruption. IDLO, through its technical assistance programs, policy advice and professional training , aims to create a solid legal foundation, helping countries address internal challenges and integrate into the international legal system.
Second, IDLO affirms its mission to promote equal and inclusive access to justice for all people, especially vulnerable groups. Women, children, indigenous peoples, migrants and people with disabilities often face many legal, economic and social barriers in accessing justice. Therefore, IDLO's new strategy focuses on reforming discriminatory legal regulations and promoting community justice models that are close to people's lives. This is not only a human rights-oriented approach, but also demonstrates inclusive development thinking - a core element of sustainable development.
Third, IDLO’s mission also emphasizes the integration of the rule of law into global sustainable development strategies. The organization recognizes that challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, economic inequality, or health crises cannot be fully addressed without a strong, fair, and transparent legal system. Therefore, IDLO aims to support countries in enacting and enforcing environmental laws, natural resource management laws, and regulations that ensure transparency in public management. This integration not only helps countries achieve Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions, but also contributes to the implementation of other goals such as poverty reduction (SDG 1), gender equality (SDG 5), climate action (SDG 13), and global cooperation (SDG 17).
Fourth, IDLO considers responding to new challenges of the digital age and global crises as part of its strategic mission. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, with the rise of artificial intelligence, big data and biotechnology, poses an urgent need for an effective regulatory legal framework that still ensures human rights. IDLO is committed to supporting countries in developing appropriate digital governance laws and institutions, in order to both take advantage of the benefits of technology and ensure safety and fairness for citizens. In addition, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the lesson of law in emergency situations has been incorporated into IDLO's strategic vision, with the goal of building emergency legal capacity based on human rights principles, avoiding the recurrence of arbitrary restrictions on citizens' rights.
A notable point in IDLO’s strategic vision and mission is the close connection between global values and local contexts. IDLO does not impose a single legal model for every country, but respects the diversity of cultures, traditions and political systems. This is reflected in the motto “rule of law for and with the people”, which emphasizes community participation in the process of law-making and enforcement. Thanks to this flexible approach, IDLO can both maintain international standards on human rights and adapt to the practical conditions of each country.
From an academic perspective, IDLO’s strategic vision and mission reflect the shift in global legal and governance from a “purely national law” model to a “rule of law linked to sustainable development” model. This shows that the rule of law is no longer just a tool of the state, but has become a multi-layered platform connecting the government, civil society, the private sector and the international community. IDLO’s strategic orientation 2025–2028, therefore, can be considered a typical example of how the rule of law is redefined in the era of globalization and integration.
In short, IDLO’s strategic vision and mission for the period 2025–2028 clearly demonstrate a comprehensive and progressive orientation, placing the rule of law at the center of justice, human rights and sustainable development. This is not only a guideline for the organization’s specific activities in the next four years, but also an affirmation of the value that IDLO wants to contribute to the international community: a world where justice is not just an ideal, but becomes a living reality in the daily lives of every human being.
3. IDLO's strategic pillars for the period 2025–2028
In every strategic plan, identifying key pillars plays a role in shaping the direction of implementation and concretizing the organization’s vision and mission. For IDLO, the 2025–2028 period is built on four main pillars: (i) strengthening the rule of law and enhancing judicial capacity; (ii) promoting equitable and inclusive access to justice; (iii) integrating the rule of law with sustainable development and responding to global challenges; (iv) enhancing organizational capacity and expanding strategic partnerships. These four pillars do not exist in isolation, but are interconnected and complementary, reflecting IDLO’s systemic approach to the rule of law in a complex global context.
Pillar 1: Strengthening the rule of law and judicial capacity. This is the fundamental foundation of all IDLO action programs, because a weak legal system that lacks independence and transparency cannot ensure justice and sustainable development. Reality shows that many developing countries are facing rampant corruption, limited judicial capacity, overlapping and unworkable legal frameworks. IDLO aims to address these problems at the root by supporting the drafting, amendment and harmonization of legal documents; at the same time, providing intensive training for judges, prosecutors, lawyers and judicial officers. The organization also focuses on promoting the independence of the judiciary, building monitoring and accountability mechanisms to strengthen social trust in justice. This pillar is crucial, because without a strong legal institution, any efforts on human rights, development or the environment will hardly achieve lasting results.
Pillar Two: Promoting equitable and inclusive access to justice. A society can only be considered to be governed by the rule of law when all individuals, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion or economic status, enjoy equal access to justice. However, many barriers still exist that leave millions of people, especially vulnerable groups, outside the legal system. IDLO will implement a number of initiatives in the period 2025–2028 to eliminate these inequalities, from legal reforms to remove discriminatory provisions, to developing community justice models and informal mediation mechanisms. IDLO places particular emphasis on the legal empowerment of women and girls, as these are often disadvantaged groups in society. Enhancing access to justice not only has human rights implications, but also contributes to strengthening political and social stability, reducing conflicts and creating the premise for comprehensive development.
Pillar Three: Integrating the Rule of Law into Sustainable Development and Responding to Global Challenges. A prominent feature of IDLO’s 2025–2028 Strategy is the integration of the rule of law into broader development areas, including the economy, environment, health, and technology. The Organization recognizes that sustainable development goals cannot be achieved without a solid legal framework that regulates the behavior of states, businesses, and individuals. For example, in the environmental field, the promulgation and strict enforcement of laws on resource conservation, emissions management, and climate change response are prerequisites for protecting the planet. In the economic field, antitrust, financial transparency, and anti-money laundering regulations play a role in maintaining market fairness. In the health field, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, laws need to be developed to balance individual rights with the need to protect public health. IDLO also focuses on the governance of technology in the digital age: building a legal framework to regulate artificial intelligence, protect personal data and prevent cybercrime. By integrating the rule of law into global issues, IDLO demonstrates that law is not only a tool for social management, but also a driving force shaping sustainable development.
Fourth pillar: Strengthening organizational capacity and expanding strategic partnerships. IDLO itself, as an international organization, needs to continuously innovate to meet the increasing demands of the global context. The 2025–2028 Strategy focuses on improving internal management capacity, enhancing the efficiency of resource use and ensuring transparency in operations. In parallel, IDLO focuses on expanding diverse partnerships – from UN organizations, development banks, regional organizations, to civil society and the private sector. The strength of the rule of law cannot come from a single organization, but requires multi-level and multi-stakeholder cooperation. Through a wide network of partners, IDLO can expand its sphere of influence, share experiences and mobilize financial and knowledge resources to implement large-scale programs. This pillar shows that IDLO is not only a technical implementing organization, but also a global actor, contributing to shaping the discourse and policy on the rule of law at the international level.
The distinctive feature of IDLO’s four strategic pillars is their interconnectedness and complementarity. Strengthening the rule of law (pillar 1) lays the foundation for inclusive access to justice (pillar 2); access to justice contributes to strengthening social consensus, thereby effectively supporting the integration of the rule of law into sustainable development (pillar 3); and all three pillars require a dynamic, effective and open-minded IDLO (pillar 4). This structure reflects the systemic and global thinking in rule of law governance, and also shows how IDLO approaches issues in a practical manner without detaching from its strategic vision.
From an academic perspective, IDLO’s four strategic pillars can be seen as a concretization of the theory of “rule of law for development”. This theory holds that the rule of law not only serves the pure goal of justice, but is also a tool to promote socio-economic development and protect human rights values. During the period 2025–2028, IDLO has applied this theory into practice by connecting law with areas such as environment, technology and gender equality. This is an important step, helping IDLO go beyond the scope of a purely legal organization to become a multidisciplinary knowledge and practice center, capable of creating lasting influence on a global scale.
4. Solutions and methods for implementing IDLO's Strategy 2025–2028
To realize the four strategic pillars, IDLO in the period 2025-2028 identifies a comprehensive system of solutions and implementation methods, combining the organization's internal innovation and strengthening multilateral cooperation. First of all, IDLO attaches importance to improving research and policy-making capacity, through the development of in-depth reports, comparative analysis of international and national laws, as well as the development of an open database on rule of law practices. This is the foundation for the organization to provide evidence-based policy recommendations, ensuring scientific validity and feasibility when supporting member countries. In addition, IDLO strongly implements judicial training and capacity building programs, focusing not only on legal knowledge but also on management skills, digital technology and professional ethics, in order to build a team of professional, independent and honest judicial officials.
In parallel with training, IDLO promotes the application of information technology and digital transformation in judicial activities. E-courts, digital records systems and online dispute resolution platforms will be encouraged to be applied, thereby shortening the time to process cases, reducing costs and expanding access to justice, especially for people in remote areas. This is also a solution to adapt to the rapid changes of the digital age, while ensuring that technology is used in a humane way, in compliance with human rights standards. In addition, IDLO focuses on strengthening the monitoring mechanism, transparency and accountability in the legal and judicial system, through supporting the development of independent inspection bodies, information disclosure regulations and effective complaint mechanisms.
In terms of implementation, IDLO promotes a multi-layered and multi-partner approach. At the global level, the organization works closely with the United Nations, development banks and regional mechanisms to integrate the rule of law into the sustainable development agenda. At the national level, IDLO works directly with state agencies, while encouraging the participation of civil society, the private sector and local communities. This is an “inclusive” approach, ensuring that all voices are heard and all legal needs are reflected in the reform process. At the same time, IDLO focuses on monitoring and evaluating results with a system of quantitative and qualitative indicators, allowing for measuring the actual impact of programs, thereby promptly adjusting the implementation strategy.
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.
IDLO'S OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS IN DEVELOPING AND TRANSITION COUNTRIES
In the current global picture, developing and transitional countries play a particularly important role. These are the regions with the largest proportion of the world's population, and are also where most of the challenges related to poverty, inequality, armed conflicts, climate change and the lack of strong legal institutions are concentrated. In that context, strengthening the rule of law foundation becomes an urgent requirement, because the law is not only a tool to maintain social order, but also a driving force to promote socio-economic development, ensure human rights, as well as enhance people's trust in the state and institutions. This is also where the International Organization for the Development of Law (IDLO) clearly demonstrates its role, mission and outstanding contributions over the past decades.
As the only intergovernmental organization in the world with a specific mission to promote the rule of law and strengthen the rule of law, IDLO has affirmed its position in supporting developing and transitional countries, where legal institutions are often incomplete or fragile. Through specific programs and projects, IDLO helps these countries build, reform and strengthen legal systems, strengthen judicial capacity, expand access to justice, promote gender equality, protect human rights, and support the international integration process. These contributions are not only technical assistance in nature, but also act as a lever to help countries overcome the vicious cycle of poverty, conflict and instability towards sustainable development.
1. Overview of the context of developing and transition countries
In the contemporary international order, developing and transition countries occupy an extremely important position, both because of their population size and territory and because of the diversity and complexity of the challenges they face. These are countries mostly located in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe, where many development opportunities converge but at the same time contain countless contradictions, instabilities and barriers on the path towards modernization, social justice and sustainable development. To understand why support from international organizations such as IDLO has become necessary and vital, it is necessary to first take a comprehensive look at the political, economic, social and legal context of these countries, thereby seeing the urgent needs in strengthening the rule of law and reforming legal institutions.
The term “developing country” is often used to refer to countries with low or middle income per capita, an economy that relies heavily on agriculture or natural resources, underdeveloped infrastructure, limited science and technology, and a low standard of living for the majority of the population. These countries account for about two-thirds of the world’s population, and despite the large differences in development levels between regions, they still share many common characteristics such as rapid urbanization without sustainable planning, a clear gap between rich and poor, inadequate health and education systems, and a high dependence on foreign investment and aid flows. Meanwhile, the term “transitional country” often refers to countries that once operated under a centrally planned economic model, or were dominated by an authoritarian political regime, and are now in the process of transitioning to a market economy and a more democratic political system. This transition is often accompanied by profound political, economic and social instability, requiring comprehensive reforms, in which legal reform and the building of a rule-of-law state play a key role.
Economically, most developing countries still face a vicious cycle of poverty and underdevelopment. Economic growth, if any, is often unsustainable, based on the exploitation of natural resources or low value-added processing industries. When the world market fluctuates, these economies are vulnerable, leading to macroeconomic instability, inflation, unemployment and trade imbalances. Weak infrastructure , from transportation systems, electricity, water, to information technology, seriously hinders the process of industrialization and modernization. In addition, the burden of public debt and dependence on foreign loans make many governments lose the initiative in policy making. In transition countries, the situation is no better: the shift from centrally planned to market economies often gives rise to corruption, opaque privatization, and vested interests, which widen the gap between rich and poor and undermine social trust.
Socially, these countries often have young populations with rapid population growth, but the quality of human resources is not high due to many shortcomings in the education system. The situation of spontaneous migration, labor migration and migration due to conflicts and natural disasters is increasing, creating great pressure on urban areas and social welfare systems. In many places, gender inequality is still common, women and children are often disadvantaged in access to education, health care, employment and property rights. Other vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and indigenous communities, are often marginalized by the legal and social systems. The gap between rich and poor not only creates social injustice, but also creates the seeds of political instability and potential conflict.
Another major challenge is armed conflict, political violence and internal instability. Many developing countries are located in regions with a long history of war, civil war or territorial disputes. Conflicts not only destroy infrastructure, cause casualties and displacement, but also undermine the legal system, causing people’s trust in justice to almost collapse. In this context, rebuilding and restoring the rule of law becomes a prerequisite to healing the wounds of war, establishing social order and paving the way for long-term development.
On the political and institutional front, many developing countries face problems such as lack of transparency, weak governance, rampant corruption and political interference in the judicial system. Judicial agencies, instead of operating independently and impartially, often become tools serving the interests of a small ruling group. Shortages in human resources, infrastructure and finance also make the legal system unable to meet the needs of society. In transition countries, the process of democratization and building new institutions often encounters resistance from conservative forces, along with a lack of experience in governance and policy making, leading to instability and a crisis of confidence.
In terms of law, weaknesses are manifested at many levels: lack of uniformity in the system of legal documents; contradictions and overlaps between laws; lack of transparency in the promulgation process and low participation of the people. In many countries, laws exist on paper but are not effectively enforced; the situation of “two-sided law” – where one side is the official system issued by the state, the other side is customary law, religion or informal mechanisms – creates inconsistency in the application of law. This not only reduces the effectiveness of social management, but also hinders the development of the economy and the guarantee of human rights.
In the context of globalization, developing and transitional countries are also facing integration pressure. Participation in international trade agreements and joining regional and global organizations requires them to have a legal system that is in line with international standards. However, the process of internalizing international commitments faces many difficulties due to the lack of legal human resources, technical capacity and complexity in institutional coordination. As a result, many countries fall into a state of "importing law" without the ability to apply it effectively, leading to a large gap between the law on paper and the law in practice.
All of the above issues show that the rule of law is a key factor in fundamentally solving the challenges facing developing and transitional countries. Without a transparent, fair and enforceable legal system, it is impossible to guarantee human rights, promote equality, or encourage investment and economic development. The rule of law is not only a legal value, but also the foundation of political stability and social order. It creates people's trust in the state, encourages civil society participation, and opens up opportunities for countries to integrate equally into the international community.
In this context, the need for support from international organizations becomes extremely urgent. Organizations like IDLO not only bring experience, expertise and resources, but also contribute to ensuring that the legal reform process takes place in a way that is consistent with international standards, but at the same time respects the context and real needs of each country. IDLO’s presence in developing and transition countries is therefore not simply technical support, but also an affirmation by the international community of the importance of the rule of law in the process of sustainable development and global integration.
2. IDLO's prominent areas of activity in developing and transition countries
In the development and integration process of developing and transitional countries, IDLO's role is most clearly demonstrated through the specific areas of activities that this organization has been implementing. With the mission of promoting the rule of law, strengthening the legal system and enhancing institutional capacity, IDLO not only provides technical support to the government but also brings practical changes to the lives of people, especially vulnerable groups. These activities are implemented in many different areas, from judicial reform, enhancing access to justice, promoting gender equality and human rights, to supporting governance in crisis or building laws for economic development. All of these have created a comprehensive picture, in which IDLO plays the role of a bridge, catalyst and driving force for countries to gradually build a strong rule of law state, as a foundation for sustainable development.
First of all, it can be seen that reforming and strengthening the judicial system has always been one of IDLO's top priorities in developing and transitional countries. A weak, independent and transparent judicial system not only undermines the effectiveness of state governance but also directly hinders the development process, because people cannot trust in justice if the courts and prosecution agencies operate unfairly. Therefore, IDLO regularly implements training and capacity building programs for judges, lawyers, prosecutors and legal officers. The courses focus not only on professional knowledge but also on professional ethics, independent adjudication skills, as well as how to handle cases related to human rights and vulnerable groups. In Afghanistan, for example, thousands of judges and lawyers have been trained by IDLO in the context of the country emerging from conflict, helping to form a generation of legal officers capable of shouldering the responsibility of restoring justice. In Kenya, the organization works with the court system to modernize the trial process, introducing information technology into case management, thereby significantly reducing the backlog of cases while also increasing transparency and accountability. These examples show that strengthening the justice system is not just a technical or procedural matter, but is also an important step in restoring trust in the state and the law in places that have been eroded by corruption, instability and abuse of power.
In parallel with judicial reform, IDLO also pays special attention to improving access to justice for all classes of people, especially vulnerable groups . A common reality in many developing countries is that laws exist mainly on paper, while the majority of people – especially the poor, women, children, ethnic minorities or people with disabilities – have almost no access to judicial services due to high costs, complicated procedures and geographical distance. Recognizing this gap, IDLO has implemented many initiatives to expand the network of free or low-cost legal aid, bringing legal services closer to the community. In Mongolia, the organization has cooperated with the government to set up legal advice centers in remote areas where people previously had little access to lawyers. In Honduras, IDLO develops programs to assist victims of gender-based violence, especially women and children, to help them file lawsuits and receive legal protection in court. These efforts contribute to making the concept of “justice for all” a reality, rather than just a slogan in political documents.
Another prominent area of IDLO’s work is promoting gender equality and ensuring human rights within the legal framework . In many developing countries, gender inequality remains a major barrier to development. Women often lack equal access to education, land, credit and career opportunities; they are often denied inheritance rights or are treated unfairly in the legal system. IDLO recognizes that a society cannot develop sustainably if half of its population is excluded from the development process. Therefore, the organization always integrates gender elements into legal reform programs and encourages women’s participation in the judicial system. In Nepal, IDLO has implemented a support program to increase the number of female judges and lawyers and raise public awareness about women’s equal rights. In African countries, the organization promotes the amendment of family, marriage and inheritance laws to remove discriminatory provisions. Not only stopping at the legal aspect, IDLO also focuses on changing social thinking, affirming the equal role of women in public and private life, thereby creating long-term positive changes.
In addition to its day-to-day activities, IDLO also stands out for its role in supporting the maintenance of the rule of law in times of crisis . In many developing countries, crises can come from armed conflicts, terrorism, natural disasters, global pandemics, or political instability. These upheavals often paralyze the legal system, causing the delivery of justice to stagnate. IDLO has been intervening in a timely manner to ensure that even in times of crisis, the rule of law is maintained. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has supported many countries in developing responsive legal frameworks that balance the protection of public health and respect for basic human rights. In Somalia and Afghanistan, where war and violence have persisted, IDLO has participated in developing new laws, establishing community reconciliation mechanisms, and supporting the maintenance of the judiciary. These efforts are not only aimed at restoring social order in the short term, but also at laying the foundation for long-term post-crisis reconstruction.
In addition, another important area of IDLO's activities is to support the development of economic, trade and investment laws , to facilitate integration and development. Many countries in transition from planned to market economies often lack a transparent legal framework to regulate economic activities. This hinders investment, destabilizes the market and limits development potential. IDLO supports governments in drafting, reviewing and promulgating laws related to trade, enterprises, contracts and investment, in accordance with international practices. Thanks to that, countries can build a stable and transparent legal environment, creating confidence for domestic and foreign investors. In Myanmar, IDLO has previously participated in supporting the development of important economic laws, paving the way for integration into the ASEAN region and the global market. In Central Asian countries, this organization has helped improve the legal system of contracts and commercial arbitration, creating effective dispute resolution mechanisms, contributing to promoting regional trade.
An equally important aspect is institutional capacity building and public administration . IDLO understands that for the law to truly come to life, there must be strong enough institutions to implement, monitor and enforce it. Therefore, this organization supports state agencies, from the Ministry of Justice, Parliament to local judiciary agencies, in improving their capacity to make legal policies, manage the judicial system and monitor law enforcement. Building strong institutions also means reducing corruption, improving accountability and ensuring that state decisions are made based on the law rather than group interests. In many African countries, IDLO has supported legislative bodies in organizing public consultations, gathering community opinions before promulgating laws, thereby enhancing transparency and civil society participation . This is a necessary step to strengthen trust between the state and the people - a core element of the rule of law.
In general, the above areas of IDLO's activities do not exist in isolation but are linked together into a unified whole, complementing each other and working towards the common goal of strengthening the rule of law. Judicial reform helps to strengthen the independence and effectiveness of the court system; expanding access to justice helps all people, including vulnerable groups, to protect their legitimate rights; promoting gender equality and human rights ensures that fairness is not only formal but also substantive; legal assistance in crisis helps countries maintain the rule of law even in extraordinary situations; building economic legislation creates a stable environment for development; and improving institutional capacity and public governance ensures that all these achievements can be sustained. That is the comprehensiveness and uniqueness of IDLO's approach: not only addressing a single aspect, but focusing on the entire legal ecosystem, from institutions, legal regulations to people and legal culture.
Case studies demonstrate IDLO’s impact. In Afghanistan, despite a volatile political and security environment, IDLO has played a key role in developing the basic legal framework, training thousands of lawyers and judges, and developing legal aid services for the people. In Kenya, the organization has played a role in modernizing the judicial system, providing technological solutions to improve the efficiency of trials. In Somalia, IDLO has helped develop new laws, improve governance, and promote reconciliation, supporting the country on the road to post-conflict reconstruction. In Mongolia, IDLO has contributed to expanding access to justice, especially for people in rural areas, where lack of legal services is a major barrier to citizenship. Each successful case shows that, no matter how difficult the context, IDLO still finds ways to help countries strengthen the rule of law, creating a foundation for development.
Overall, IDLO’s contributions to developing and transitional countries are significant in many ways. First, they help strengthen people’s trust in the legal system, create social cohesion and limit the risk of instability. Second, they contribute to promoting sustainable development, when transparent and fair laws become the foundation for investment, trade and economic development. Third, they play a role in protecting human rights and promoting gender equality, bringing international standards closer to the lives of communities. Finally, these contributions are also of global significance, because a safe, fair and developed world cannot be separated from ensuring the rule of law in each country, especially vulnerable countries.
Looking back on its development, it can be affirmed that IDLO has become an important agent in realizing the rule of law in places where the rule of law is still fragile. Through its diverse activities, this organization not only provides technical assistance, but also inspires confidence and aspiration for justice, helping developing and transitional countries to move more firmly on the path to building a just, peaceful and sustainable society.