Welcome Address by Prime Minister of Fiji, Hon Sitiveni L. Rabuka, at the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting 2026

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we gather today, ki Na Werelevu i Navatulevu, Na Momo na Tui Nadi, I pay my respects to their Chiefs, past and present, as well as emerging leaders and acknowledge their enduring role within the Vanua, We are grateful for their custodianship of this land, which allows us to gather here today to witness this important occasion.

On behalf of the Government and the people of Fiji, it is my distinct honour to extend a very warm welcome to all delegates gathered here for the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting 2026. Fiji is especially delighted and profoundly grateful to host this honourable gathering. We regard your presence on our shores as a meaningful affirmation of our shared commitment, to the very principles and purpose of the Commonwealth.

Allow me to convey our sincere appreciation to the Commonwealth Secretariat for its trust and hard work, without which this meeting would not have been possible. I also wish to acknowledge with gratitude the dedication of the organising committees and officials whose tireless efforts have brought us together in this important forum.

We are truly honoured by the breadth and calibre of representation before us - Ministers, Attorney-Generals, Solicitor-Generals, and senior law officers from across the Commonwealth. Your collective presence reflects the weight of responsibility you carry, the shared resolve to strengthen the rule of law across our diverse nations and your principled stand in the noble calling to which you have dedicated yourselves.

Over the coming days, you will gather not simply to exchange legal perspectives, but to seize this rare opportunity to reinforce the rule of law across our Commonwealth at a time when public trust, social cohesion, and democracy are being tested in many parts of the world.

Among the forces shaping this global landscape, climate change stands as one of the most profound. Its impacts neither stop at our coastlines nor at borders. They extend into our courts, our institutions, our homes and the daily lives of our people. Climate change tests the capacity of our legal systems to protect communities, preserve identities, to steward resources fairly, and to uphold stability in times of increasing uncertainty.

For the rule of law is not an abstract principle confined to constitutions or courtrooms. It is the foundation upon which citizens place their trust in democratic systems. It is what safeguards every community’s right to live in safety, health, and dignity.

That is why this meeting carries such significance. Your deliberations, and the practical measures you will advance, speak directly to the expectations our people hold of us. Justice that is dependable, institutions that are strong, and laws that serve not only those who understand them best, but those who rely upon them the most. Especially in an era when climate, security, and human mobility are increasingly intertwined.

The theme for this year’s meeting is ‘Anchoring Justice in a Changing Tide: Strengthening the Rule of Law for a Resilient Future’ could not be more fitting for the time we now find ourselves. It calls on us to reflect on the forces redefining our values, reshaping our world, and the firmness our institutions must demonstrate in response.

The ‘changing tide’ is not just a metaphor. Across our Commonwealth, we see the accelerating pressures of climate change, the profound disruptions of digital transformation, and the emergence of new and complex risks that test the tenets of our legal systems to its limits. These tides move swiftly and, at times unpredictably. No nation is untouched by their reach.

To ‘anchor justice’ is therefore to ensure that, amid these shifts, the rule of law remains firmly grounded in fairness, guided by principle, and upheld by institutions that protect rights, safeguard the vulnerable and make space for mercy. It means legal systems that do not drift with every challenge, but instead provide certainty, and public confidence.

Resilience does not begin with infrastructure or technology alone. It begins with justice, with laws that hold steady under pressure, with institutions strong enough to serve every member of society, and with a shared determination to ensure that the changing tides of our era do not erode the rights and protections upon which our people depend.

Across our world today, the rule of law is under pressure in ways both visible and subtle. In many places, institutions are strained by rising demands, by social and economic uncertainty, and by the accelerating pace of global change.

When the law is weakened, unevenly applied, or unable to command public confidence, it is not abstract systems that suffer, it is ordinary people, real lives. It is families, workers, communities, and the vulnerable who feel the impact most directly, when protections falter or when justice becomes inconsistent or inaccessible.

This is why the work entrusted to you this week is so important. This meeting is not merely a forum for discussion, rather it is a working meeting with real world consequences. The challenges we face cannot be met with rhetoric alone. They demand practical cooperation by sharing solutions that strengthen institutions, expanding access to justice, and placing people at the centre of our legal systems.

Ultimately, the rule of law is about empowering communities, enabling citizens to seek redress without fear, to resolve disputes fairly, to protect their livelihoods, and to have confidence that the system will serve them regardless of status, income, or geography.

As you move toward your Outcome Statement, I trust that your deliberations will converge around several core priorities areas where practical cooperation can strengthen the foundations of justice across our Commonwealth.

This includes advancing practical measures that make justice more accessible by reducing barriers, ensuring fairness and inclusion for all. And the strengthening of independent institutions that uphold the rule of law, for they are essential to stable societies, fair economies, and public trust.

I urge the continued focus on protecting our communities and our environment. The rule of law plays a vital role in safeguarding climate resilience, managing natural resources responsibly, and ensuring that the most vulnerable are not left behind as environmental pressures intensify. Legal systems must serve as a shield protecting both people and the planet they depend on.

These priorities remind us of a simple truth, strong institutions, coupled with accessible justice, are the foundation of stable, fair, and resilient societies. They empower communities to endure and to thrive, even in times of profound change.

Here in Fiji, we hold a cherished tradition of Vuvale, our family. In that same spirit, we see the Commonwealth as a family of nations bound by shared values, mutual responsibility, and a common purpose. It is fitting that we gather here in the Pacific, guided by the principle of an Ocean of Peace, which teaches us that harmony is not given, but built through dialogue, cooperation, and steadfast commitment.

As a Commonwealth Vuvale, we grow stronger when we share knowledge, forge practical partnerships, and deepen legal cooperation across borders. The challenges before us do not respect boundaries, and neither should our resolve. Our responses must be rooted in trust, shaped by collaboration, and firmly anchored in justice and peace.

In closing, I encourage you to shape clear and practical measures that can guide collective action across our  Common Wealth, including at the forthcoming Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). What you agree upon here should help set the direction for Commonwealth wide progress.

I reaffirm Fiji’s full commitment to supporting your successful deliberations in the days ahead. I extend my sincere thanks to the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, and to each delegation present here for your leadership, your engagement and your shared dedication to the Commonwealth’s enduring values.

I wish you a productive meeting and a safe and pleasant stay in Fiji. May your work in the days ahead strengthen the rule of law, anchor justice amid changing tides, and help secure a more resilient future for all our peoples.

Watch the welcome address by Hon Sitiveni L. Rabuka, Prime Minister of Fiji.