Statement by the Director-General, Ms. Jan Beagle
4-6 November 2025
Doha, Qatar
Excellencies,
It is a pleasure to participate in this Summit on behalf of the International Development Law Organization, the only global intergovernmental organization exclusively devoted to promoting the rule of law to advance peace and sustainable development.
I thank the Government of Qatar for the warm welcome.
Three decades on from the first World Social Summit in Copenhagen, we come together at a pivotal moment to reaffirm our shared vision of social justice and human dignity.
The commitments agreed then, and reaffirmed in the Doha Political Declaration, remain central to the objectives of the 2030 Agenda – and strengthening the rule of law is key to turning those commitments into a lived reality.
The Doha Declaration rightly calls for addressing the structural and underlying causes of global challenges in accordance with international law, including human rights obligations. The rule of law provides the foundation to make this possible.
It ensures that social policies are designed and implemented fairly, by institutions that are accountable, so that all can benefit from stable, safe and just societies.
Allow me to share three ways the rule of law is essential to delivering on the Commitments of this Summit.
First, eliminating discriminatory laws is fundamental to equal rights and equal participation.
When laws protect equally and institutions are accountable, trust takes root.
At IDLO, we work with governments to review and reform legislation, removing discriminatory provisions and making sure that justice serves everyone.
Women, youth and marginalized groups continue to face legal barriers that restrict their political, social and economic opportunities.
Reforming laws and ensuring equal protection before the law is a prerequisite for social integration and the realization of human rights for all.
IDLO, with UN Women and national partners, conducts comprehensive reviews to identify discriminatory laws and to develop plans for reform.
Second, the rule of law can enable broad-based economic growth and help eradicate poverty.
By simplifying regulations, speeding up commercial dispute resolution, and enforcing contracts, states can create the right conditions for investment and trade.
They also give businesses the confidence to navigate the legal environment securely.
IDLO works with governments and institutions to reform laws and regulations, strengthen institutions, and empower people and communities to take part in the economy.
Our Investment Support Programme for Least Developed Countries, endorsed in the Doha Programme of Action, is a good example.
It is a public-private partnership that has helped LDCs to create enabling environments that attract sustainable investment.
At the same time, the rule of law can help ensure that development benefits everyone.
Legal empowerment, legal aid, and legal identity, can help people understand and claim their rights, through both formal and informal justice systems.
Third, and perhaps most importantly at a time we are facing a crisis of confidence in public institutions, the rule of law can build trust.
The rule of law ensures fairness, accountability, and transparency – giving people confidence that institutions are working in the interest of all, not just the privileged few.
People-centred approaches empower the least powerful to claim their rights and participate in decision-making.
Effective justice systems help to prevent conflicts by addressing their root causes and resolving disputes before they can spiral into violence.
Laws, institutions, and mechanisms must be grounded in lived realities.
They must support the varied pathways that people take to see justice - from courts and digital spaces to customary, faith-based and Indigenous systems.
In conclusion, as the Doha Declaration, and the Compromiso de Sevilla remind us, social development requires stronger investment, including in justice.
Financing the rule of law is not a cost – it is an investment in stability, equality and confidence.
Just as we invest in education, health and technology, we must also invest in accessible, accountable and people-centred justice systems.
IDLO remains committed to working with all our partners to advance the rule of law as the foundation for implementation of the Doha Declaration.