FOCUS ON THE RULE OF LAW AT THE UN "OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ARISING FROM THE MANY COMPLEX POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATIONS BEFORE US MUST BE GUIDED BY THE RULE OF LAW, AS IT IS THE FOUNDATION OF FRIENDLY AND EQUITABLE RELATIONS BETWEEN STATES AND THE BASIS ON WHICH JUST AND FAIR SOCIETIES ARE BUILT." Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Rule of Law at the National and International Levels, November 2012 “THE RULE OF LAW IS ABOUT SUBSTANTIVE JUSTICE AS WELL AS PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS. IT HELPS TO CREATE MORE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES IN WHICH THERE IS GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AND WHERE EVERY INDIVIDUAL CAN LEAD A DECENT LIFE FREE FROM FEAR AND WANT.” IDLO Strategic Plan 2013-2016 “WE REAFFIRM THE IMPORTANCE OF PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS, GOOD GOVERNANCE, THE RULE OF LAW, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AT ALL LEVELS.” Outcome document of the special event to follow up efforts made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals "WITH DEVELOPMENT AND LAW EMBEDDED SIDE BY SIDE IN OUR VERY NAME, WE SEE THE RULE OF LAW AS AN ESSENTIAL AND ENABLING FRAMEWORK FOR EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES IN WHICH EVERY INDIVIDUAL CAN LEAD A DECENT LIFE FREE FROM FEAR AND WANT. THE CHALLENGE TO WHICH WE MUST ALL RISE IS TO CREATE A CULTURE OF JUSTICE." IDLO Director-General Irene Khan, Intervention at the High Level Meeting on the Rule of Law, September 2012 "The past year was a landmark year for the promotion of justice and international law. The declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly [2012], adopted in September 2012, affirmed that rule of law means that all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the state itself, are accountable to just, fair and equitable laws and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law." UN Secretary General's Report on the Work of the UN 2013
"My hope is that ultimately the new [post-2015 development] agenda will recognize, as our Leaders have in the Declaration, that the advancement of the rule of law at the national and international levels is essential for sustained and inclusive economic growth, sustainable development, the eradication of poverty and hunger, and the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development." th President of the 68 session of the UNGA, Mr. J. Ashe 6th Committee, New York, September 2013
“The Security Council remains fully committed to contributing its share in strengthening the rule of law at both the national and international levels. Both are inherently linked, for every nation that proclaims the rule of law at home must respect it abroad, and every nation that insists on it abroad must enforce it at home.” President of the Security Council, Mr. Guido Westerwelle High Level Meeting on the Rule of Law, New York, 24 September 2012
"Challenges of environmental degradation, rapid urbanization, conflict, fragility, severe income inequalities and social exclusion will only be properly met if sustainable development goals are framed by the rule of law and a culture of justice attuned to cultural values, norms and perspectives." IDLO Director-General Irene Khan, Statment at the Annual Ministerial Review of ECOSOC, July 2013
International consensus is deepening on the key contribution of the rule of law to peace building and development. Justice and rights are becoming increasingly the language of the international community. As discussions to shape the post-2015 agenda progress, the rule of law is increasingly being acknowledged as essential to promoting inclusive growth and sustainable development.