Remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting 2026

This evening, as the ceremony was going on, has set me thinking. It set me thinking about the ceremonies, similar ones, that we have in Africa. I can speak for the ones that we have in Ghana – ceremonies to welcome guests. And for this, we are very grateful. On behalf of the delegates and on my own behalf, we thank you. We thank His Excellency, the Prime Minister. We thank the Chiefs and the Custodians of the land for accepting us. We are very grateful. Also, ceremonies like what we have experienced, involving communities - and the extension of welcome to others - working together is what I believe multilateralism and the Commonwealth are all about.

We work together in order to make the world a better place. And for us, we are working together. We are sharing experiences [and] sharing best practices, building the capacities of each other so that we will make the Commonwealth a better place.

Honourable Prime Minister, Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and gentlemen, Good evening – and thank you for such a gracious welcome. To our hosts in Fiji: you have reminded us today that leadership is not only about institutions and laws, but about culture, community, and care. We are deeply grateful for your hospitality – and for the spirit in which you have welcomed the Commonwealth to these islands.

This evening gives us a moment to pause – to reflect not just on what we are here to do, but why it matters. We gather at a time when many people around the world feel that the ground beneath them is shifting. They see uncertainty in politics. Volatility in economies. Threats to the environment that sustains them. And institutions that too often feel distant or unresponsive.

When the rule of law weakens, people feel it first – and most sharply – in their everyday lives. When laws are applied unevenly, trust erodes. When accountability fades, inequality grows. When justice is delayed or denied, democracy itself is weakened. This is what happens when the rule of force begins to edge out the rule of law. And it is why the work you do – as Law Ministers and Attorneys-General – matters so profoundly.

Here in Fiji, we are reminded that resilience is not accidental. It is built to last – systematically, deliberately, and collectively. Pacific communities have long understood resilience as something rooted in stewardship: of land, of ocean, of tradition, and of one another. Law, at its best, does the same. It provides the framework through which societies manage conflict, protect the vulnerable, and pass on something stronger to the next generation. The Commonwealth was founded on that belief.

For more than six decades, this group has been a quiet but powerful engine of collective action – giving us shared principles, practical tools, and the confidence to learn from one another. But tradition alone is not enough. And action only matters if it can deliver – for women and men, for young people, for small states and large ones alike. That is why this meeting comes at such a pivotal moment.

Our new Strategic Plan challenges us to move faster, to be more practical, and to focus relentlessly on impact – on whether the rule of law is felt not only in courtrooms and constitutions, but in homes, workplaces, and communities. And whether it helps deliver the democratic dividend. Over these days, you will shape action to strengthen democratic resilience. To ensure technology serves justice – not the other way around. To protect maritime rights and legal certainty in the face of climate change. And to expand access to justice so that no one is left behind. In doing so, you are helping to restore trust – between institutions and the people they exist to serve.

That is no small task. But it is a vital one. History will remember not the turbulence of our times, but whether we had the courage to rise above the chaos and recreate a better world – together. Tonight, let us celebrate the partnership that makes that possible. Let us honour the shared values that bind this Commonwealth. And let us recommit to turning our shared strength into shared progress and prosperity.

Watch the video of the Secretary-General recite the remark.