TODAY marks the opening of the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting (CLMM) in Nadi, Fiji, bringing together 150 delegates to strengthen legal safeguards and promote the rule of law.
The meeting will include attorneys general, justice ministers, and solicitors general, who are expected to attend from 56 Commonwealth countries.
“The rule of law remains essential to peace, stability, and development, yet it is under serious pressure in many parts of the world. Where it is weakened or unevenly applied, the impact is felt most sharply by ordinary people,” said Shirley Botchwey, the Commonwealth Secretary-General.
“For the Commonwealth, the rule of law is a cornerstone of our Charter and our work. It demands practical, thoughtful commitment and cooperation, not rhetoric.”
The three-day meeting will bring together law ministers to discuss how strong legal safeguards protect everyday life, from people’s ability to participate in democracy and earn a fair living to their right to live in safe and healthy communities.
Ministers are also expected to agree on practical measures to promote the rule of law by enhancing access to justice and strengthening legal institutions that underpin stable societies, fair economies, and environmental protection.
Botchwey added, “In Fiji, our ministers will come together to strengthen the rule of law as the foundation of a resilient future, where every person has a voice in democracy, every worker is treated with dignity, and every vulnerable community is protected from a changing climate.”
“That is what our people count on us to do. By working together, we can uphold the rule of law as an essential protection for the people of the Commonwealth.”
She also thanked the Government of Fiji for hosting the meeting.
The meeting will be chaired by Siromi Turaga, Minister for Justice and acting Attorney General of Fiji, under the theme ‘Anchoring Justice in a Changing Tide: Strengthening the Rule of Law for a Resilient Future’.
“Fiji hoped to explore how the Commonwealth family could strengthen the rule of law by ensuring justice systems remained flexible, inclusive and responsive.
“Together, we will also consider the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change, digital transformation and regional cooperation, so that our legal systems remain resilient for generations to come,” he said.
The meeting will include five side events with youth leaders, justice system veterans, and disability rights advocates to inform ministerial discussions.
The CLM Meeting will be held from 9 to 12 February 2026 at the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort in Nadi, and the meeting’s outcomes are expected to help shape the agenda for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to be held in Antigua and Barbuda later this year.