LETTER TO PARTNERS
December 2024
Dear friends,
As we come to the end of 2024, I am pleased to share some reflections on IDLO’s work over the past year.
We have reached the culmination of IDLO’s 2021-2024 Strategic Plan — a journey that has been both challenging and rewarding.
We developed the Plan in 2020, the first year of my first term, which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, a period of unprecedented disruption and uncertainty.
Since then, the world has experienced a cruel and continuing storm of crises that have jeopardized and, in some cases, reversed hard won progress on sustainable development.
Major violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, and especially failure to protect civilians, are becoming a shockingly regular feature of modern conflict.
The World Justice Project recorded its seventh consecutive global decline in the rule of law this year, in what is becoming a sustained rule of law recession.
Yet despite all of this, I remain optimistic in the belief that the rule of law can drive positive change and help build a more peaceful, just, and sustainable future.
Over the past four years, IDLO has supported our partners to adapt and respond in the face of crises.
Our integrated approach, combining programming, research and policy advocacy, has helped position IDLO as a prominent champion of SDG 16 and the rule of law.
We have worked to make justice systems more people-centred, addressing barriers to access, and enhancing the capacity of institutions to deliver justice effectively and inclusively.
Most of this work was carried out in fragile and conflict affected settings, including Afghanistan, the Sahel, Somalia and Ukraine.
We worked to reduce the justice gap for women and girls, and advanced innovations in justice delivery, from customary and informal mechanisms to digital solutions.
We leveraged the contribution of the rule of law to promote inclusive economic development, climate justice, food security and the sustainable use of natural resources, and healthy lives and well-being.
Our research highlighted rule of law approaches for addressing key development challenges and made the case for greater engagement and investment in justice systems.
IDLO engaged actively in multilateral forums including the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the Commission on the Status of Women, the High-Level Political Forum, and the Conference of the Parties to the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change, and numerous other policy discussions to keep the rule of law high on the global policy agenda.
IDLO’s membership is also growing. Just last week, we welcomed Cyprus as a Member Party and received a formal expression of interest from The Bahamas. Earlier this year Uruguay’s accession to IDLO was approved by our Member Parties and we look forward to welcoming them in the IDLO family. This is not only a vote of confidence in the Organization but also a confirmation that our mandate is of significant relevance for countries across the development spectrum.
My optimism is based on what we have accomplished together, with the support of our Member Parties, partners and the dedication of IDLO colleagues around the world.
In the face of extreme adversity, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that positive change is happening.
I hope that you will enjoy looking back at these highlights from IDLO’s work across 2024.
EMPOWERING JUSTICE SEEKERS
An important element in IDLO’s approach to people-centred justice is empowering justice seekers to claim their rights.
This is particularly important in crisis or transitional contexts where justice seekers most need the protection of the law.
A good illustration is Afghanistan where – despite challenges posed by narrowing public space and increased scrutiny from the de facto authorities – IDLO has continued to support justice seekers, especially women and vulnerable groups, through non-state service providers and community justice systems.
IDLO’s subregional programme in the Sahel seeks to strengthen public engagement with the criminal justice chain in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger through the promotion of fair trial and human rights standards, with a focus on local priorities.
In Niger, IDLO supported awareness caravans in Tillabéri and Dosso to promote knowledge of rights in the criminal justice system, which reached some 12,000 individuals, half of whom were women and girls.
In Uganda, IDLO enhanced access to justice for marginalized communities in remote areas, addressing emerging conflicts among herders, farmers, and investors regarding land use and ownership. In collaboration with partners, we provided legal aid services to over 9,000 vulnerable individuals, more than half of whom were women.
A key aspect of our work involves engagement with customary and informal justice systems, which serve as the primary means of dispute resolution for most people worldwide.
In March, we supported the judiciary of Uganda in hosting the Africa Judiciaries’ Summit on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), to explore the effectiveness of ADR methods in improving access to justice across the region.
We published an issue brief on delivering people-centred justice in Somalia, highlighting Alternative Dispute Resolution Centres, established with IDLO support.
The centres provide free, locally legitimate dispute resolution through mediation, arbitration, Xeer, and Sharia norms, aligned with international standards.
MAKING LAWS AND INSTITUTIONS WORK FOR PEOPLE
IDLO recognizes that laws and institutions must be built around the needs of the communities they serve.
In The Gambia, we facilitated a study visit, where Gambian judges observed Nigeria’s court reporting system, leading the country’s Chief Justice to approve a pilot programme to improve record-keeping and reduce case backlogs.
We organized exposure visits to the United States and Italy, for officials from the Philippines Supreme Court and Judicial Academy, and conducted training sessions on prosecuting money laundering cases.
In the Bahamas, we built prosecutorial capacity in case preparation and the presentation of forensic evidence, and we enhanced clinical legal education in North Macedonia.
IDLO's Global Corrections Programme, which concluded in March, has generated interest from Costa Rica and Guatemala and fostered the establishment of a network of Latin American prison officials.
In Somalia, IDLO supported efforts to strengthen the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism system by drafting regulations and assisting the Financial Reporting Center and Somaliland Bank.
We also continued enhancing justice delivery through digital innovation, including installing software for anonymizing judicial sentences in Honduras.
IDLO is increasingly implementing subregional approaches to address transnational issues.
Under the East Africa Transnational Organized Crime programme, we have partnered with Kenya, Mozambique, and Tanzania to strengthen their capacities to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate transnational organized crime.
We also supported efforts to combat trafficking in persons (TIP) and strengthen justice systems in the Mano River Basin in West Africa.
In Liberia, we conducted a justice chain analysis to improve the handling of trafficking cases and facilitated a high-level dialogue on strengthening the TIP response.
In Sierra Leone, we helped develop the National Action Plan on TIP, aligning it with national and regional frameworks.
IDLO continued to support Ukraine’s accountability efforts as part of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group, providing technical assistance on international law, training prosecutors on crimes against children and sexual violence, and finalizing action plans for law enforcement reform and combating torture.
Anti-corruption is an important and growing part of our overall portfolio.
In Ukraine, we are strengthening ethics for justice sector officials, including in the High Council of Justice, and in Mongolia, IDLO launched a new Judicial Engagement and Transparency project to foster effective and transparent relationships among citizens, civil society, media, and the justice system.
I had the pleasure of visiting Moldova to launch a major new programme to enhance the efficiency of the justice sector, promote public trust, and empower civil society to monitor corruption by advancing digitalization, transparency, and civic engagement.
We are also supporting anti-corruption and public integrity initiatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Honduras, Guatemala, Peru, and Ecuador.
IDLO participated as an observer in the second meeting of the G7 Anti-Corruption Working Group, and became a member of the G7 Anti-corruption Task Force for Ukraine.
REDUCING THE JUSTICE GAP FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS
Achieving gender equality is central to IDLO’s mission and a major priority as for me as Director-General.
During 2024, we launched a report on strengthening gender equality in law in Kenya, in partnership with UN Women and the Kenya Law Reform Commission.
This report evaluates Kenya's legal framework, identifies discriminatory laws, and provides recommendations for reform, following similar studies in the Philippines and Sierra Leone.
In Tunisia, we assessed the implementation of the law on gender-based violence, validated findings in a workshop with Ministerial support, and provided training for 120 lawyers.
In Uganda, IDLO focused on improving the management of cases of sexual and gender-based violence and violence against children by the Police Force.
In Liberia, we strengthened the role of women in law enforcement through gender policy reviews of key agencies, and capacity-building initiatives, including training for women firefighters.
IDLO continued to contribute to policy advocacy on advancing gender equality, working at the intersection of SDG 5 and SDG 16.
At the Commission on the Status of Women, IDLO co-organized several events to highlight the connection between justice and gender equality, including empowering women in customary and informal justice systems and creating gender-responsive environments.
We launched a report on financing women’s justice needs, which emphasized the importance of aligning public spending and national budgets with women’s justice priorities, particularly in addressing violence against women.
At the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), in an event on gender equality in law, co-organized with UN Women, I issued a call to action to embrace a feminist approach to the rule of law.
In anticipation of Beijing +30 next year, we have co-organized events with UNECE in Geneva and UNECA in Addis Ababa to foster regional consensus.
Having participated in the Beijing Conference myself, I am looking forward to actively engaging with events next year to accelerate the implementation of the commitments in the Beijing Platform for Action.
INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
IDLO is committed to advancing enabling environments for inclusive economic development by strengthening laws and policies, enhancing state regulatory capacities, supporting dispute resolution, and promoting the economic empowerment of women and girls.
In Mongolia, IDLO supported revisions to the Law on Mediation and related frameworks, and in Jordan, we developed a comprehensive training handbook on insolvency law, which integrates national and international perspectives.
We also promote the use of ADR methods, including arbitration and mediation, for resolving commercial disputes fairly and expeditiously.
In Kyrgyzstan, we are facilitating readiness for the Singapore Convention through training, public outreach, and collaboration with the Supreme Court.
In Montenegro, we enhanced the ADR Centre, increasing mediation referrals, while in Uzbekistan, we reviewed legislation, developed tools, and launched public campaigns to support mediation processes.
Since its inception, our Investment Support Programme for Least Developed Countries, a public/private partnership, has supported ten African LDCs in strengthening their investment frameworks.
In 2024, we assisted Liberia’s National Investment Commission in drafting an amended concessions agreement through the Programme.
CLIMATE JUSTICE
IDLO continues to champion rule-of-law approaches to climate action and justice, with a focus on gender equality, sustainable development, and the empowerment of vulnerable communities.
In November, I participated in COP29 in Baku where, during the high-level segment, I emphasized the importance of fair and gender-responsive legal and regulatory frameworks, and empowering vulnerable communities to drive effective climate action.
In collaboration with the International Union for the Conversation of Nature and other partners, IDLO also participated in events on addressing gender-based violence linked to climate challenges, and the role of courts in climate action.
Throughout the year, we continued to support countries to implement rule of law approaches to climate action.
In Kenya, IDLO spearheaded a community engagement initiative in Isiolo County, raising awareness about climate challenges and developing a localized action plan to enhance resilience and communication on climate issues.
In Rwanda, we developed a roadmap to strengthen decentralized land dispute resolution through the Abunzi, or traditional authorities, and provided training to mediators to improve dispute resolution on land issues.
At the SIDS4 Conference in Antigua and Barbuda, we underscored the role of the rule of law in advancing climate justice, human rights, and equitable economic development.
As International Gender Champions, the heads of our offices in Geneva, New York and the Hague and I joined the Geneva Pledge for Gender-Responsive Climate Action.
IDLO also remains committed to promoting sustainable food systems through a rule-of-law approach.
In Tunisia, we are addressing barriers to land and credit access for farmers, particularly women and youth, to enhance their participation in food supply chains and improve livelihoods.
In partnership with FAO, we published an issue brief that synthesizes research from 40 countries and the EU, offering actionable recommendations to protect food security during crises.
We also contributed to discussions at the Committee on World Food Security, the Human Rights Council, and the Africa Food Systems Forum.
HEALTH LAW
IDLO continues to work at the intersection of health, sustainable development, and the rule of law to promote access to healthcare, pandemic preparedness, and capacity to manage diseases.
In Tunisia, we launched a new initiative, in partnership with government and civil society, to enhance access to legal aid and health services for migrants.
Under the second phase of the Global RECAP Programme, in collaboration with WHO, we extended support to Ghana, Indonesia, Nepal, Mauritius, and Thailand, strengthening gender-responsive approaches to non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
We supported civil society in Bangladesh, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Uganda with advocacy on NCDs and contributed to the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on NCD Prevention and Control.
At the World Health Assembly and the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board, IDLO highlighted the importance of legal frameworks in addressing diseases, improving health security, and tackling the social determinants of health.
INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE AND SYSTEMS
To drive innovation, integration, and impact, we are working to promote greater quality and innovation in our work, reinforcing IDLO’s commitment to evidence-based approaches and measurable outcomes.
A key priority is IDLO’s ongoing transition from a project-based implementation model to a more integrated and programmatic approach, exemplified by the development of context-specific pilot Country Strategies for Burkina Faso, Somalia, Tunisia, and Uganda.
We continued strengthening our focus on results-based management by collecting data for the Strategic Results and Resources Framework to gather insights into our operational and organizational achievements, enhance our ability to measure progress, and identify areas for improvement.
We also initiated the development of IDLO’s first comprehensive Data and Knowledge Management Strategy.
IDLO continued to invest in upgrading its operational systems and business processes to enhance transparency and efficiency, including by strengthening the Finance and Procurement systems, upgrading ICT infrastructure, and continuing the redesign of our website for improved user experience and accessibility.
As a specialized knowledge-based organization, IDLO’s people are our most valuable asset.
The organizational change management process continues with initiatives to strengthen staff engagement and teamwork in many departments and offices.
We are also developing an Employee Health and Well-being Framework and updating our e-learning curriculum.
My commitment to security risk management remains a top priority, especially as much of our work takes place in fragile and insecure contexts. We have made significant progress in securing recognition of IDLO’s legal status in countries of operation, with the Host Country Agreement (HCA) with Ukraine coming into force and the Bahamas enacting legislation to implement its HCA, while negotiations with several other countries are ongoing.
STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS
Over the past year, we strengthened our engagement with current and prospective partners, a central objective for me as Director-General.
Collaborative partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders including governments, international organizations, civil society, the private sector, academia, youth and more, enable IDLO to leverage diverse expertise, resources, and networks to address complex rule of law challenges more effectively.
Partnerships also enhance advocacy efforts, enabling IDLO to amplify its voice on global platforms and integrate rule of law principles into broader development agendas.
In January, at the invitation of the President of the Council of Ministers, I attended the Italy-Africa Summit, where I highlighted IDLO’s capacity development efforts and growing partnerships across Africa, and the ways in which the rule of law could contribute to the realization of the Mattei Plan.
During the year, I met with key Italian officials, including the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Director-General of the Development Cooperation Directorate, the Director of the Department of Information for Security, in her capacity as G7 Sherpa, and the Director of AICS, to discuss IDLO’s initiatives and explore avenues for strengthened collaboration.
I also engaged with Ambassadors and representatives of IDLO’s Member Parties in Rome, Geneva, and New York to thank them for their support and partnership.
We welcomed delegations to IDLO Headquarters from the ASEAN Committee in Rome, Chile, the Gambia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Uruguay, and the Berlin Parliament.
In May, I took part in the European University Institute’s State of the Union Conference in Florence, a valuable forum for discussing justice, democracy, and the rule of law. I met with the Institute’s Secretary-General to explore potential synergies and avenues for collaboration.
In June, I led our delegation to the 3rd annual US-IDLO Strategic Dialogue, which provided a valuable platform to engage with stakeholders from across the U.S. government to discuss shared priorities and explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation.
We continued to strengthen collaboration with the United Nations system through bilateral engagement and cooperation with UN entities, including the UN Secretariat, FAO, IFAD, ILO, IOM, ITU, OHCHR, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNEP, UNHCR, UNICRI, UNODC, UN Women, WFP and WHO, on programming, research, and policy advocacy.
We also continued to enhance our engagement with Rome-based Agencies, including by renewing our partnership agreement with FAO, hosting negotiation skills training with colleagues from FAO, WFP and IFAD, exploring synergies with ICCROM’s Director-General, and participating in UNIDROIT’s 103rd Council session.
IDLO entered a new partnership with the Hague Conference on Private International Law, emphasizing shared priorities around the digitalization of public services and its implications for the rule of law and access to justice.
In June, I was pleased to welcome IDLO’s Board of Advisers to Rome for their annual meeting and to consult with them on the development of our new Strategic Plan 2025-2028. I extend my gratitude to the Chair, Mr. Stefano Manservisi, and all Board members for their support and insights.
During International Law Week in October, in partnership with the Italian Mission to the UN, we hosted a reception to raise IDLO’s profile in New York.
ADVOCATING FOR POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE RULE OF LAW
We engaged in several major policy advocacy initiatives over the past year to further position IDLO as a thought leader and champion for SDG 16.
Our flagship policy advocacy event, the SDG 16 Conference, co-organized in partnership with the Government of Italy and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, was held exceptionally in New York this year and opened by H.E. the President of the Republic of Italy and the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, together with the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and myself. The discussions reaffirmed the strong link among peace, justice, the rule of law, and sustainable development, emphasizing the role of SDG 16 as a critical enabler for the entire 2030 Agenda.
The key messages of the Conference were, at the request of Italy, circulated by the Secretary-General to all UN Member States as a joint General Assembly and ECOSOC document.
At the HLPF, I was invited by the President of ECOSOC to moderate the official HLPF Review session on “SDG 16 and its Interlinkages with Other SDGs – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions”, and IDLO organized a side event, on “Game-changing Rule of Law Solutions”, featuring insights from IDLO’s partners on the tangible dividends of investing in the rule of law in their respective countries.
Building on these engagements, IDLO advocated for the rule of law at the UN General Assembly High-Level Week and the Summit for the Future.
Despite the challenging environment for multilateral cooperation, world leaders came together at the Summit of the Future, in September, to agree on the steps needed to promote a multilateral system that is fit for the future.
The Pact for the Future is a culmination of a four-year process of consultations and negotiations, in which IDLO played an active role.
In the Plenary of the Summit, I welcomed the many references to the rule of law and human rights in the Pact, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, while emphasizing the importance of turning these commitments into action.
We also championed greater political and financial support for the rule of law in many other forums, including at the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly; the 33rd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna; the Human Rights Council in Geneva; and the OECD Global Roundtable on Access to Justice.
IDLO partnered with the World Bank as one of the co-hosts of the Bank’s inaugural Global Forum on Justice and Rule of Law in Washington, DC. During the opening plenary session, I presented IDLO’s insights into the factors contributing to injustice, inequality, and insecurity, as well as strategies to enhance access to justice by 2030.
This year, IDLO was granted Permanent Observer status at the Inter-Parliamentary Union and attended its 149th Assembly in Geneva and the 10th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Yerevan, strengthening collaboration with parliamentarians and youth leaders worldwide.
In November, IDLO held its annual Assembly of Parties and Partnership Forum at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The Assembly, opened by the Italian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Mr. Edmondo Cirielli, culminated with the adoption of IDLO’s new Strategic Plan 2025-2028.
The Partnership Forum, entitled “Rule of law solutions for a peaceful, just and inclusive future: IDLO’s Strategic Plan 2025-2028”, was opened by a special address from H.E. Ms. Amina Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General. The event featured a line-up of high-level speakers – including the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of The Gambia, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the Legal Advisor of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers – who shared their experiences of using rule of law solutions to combat corruption, reduce the justice gap for women and girls, advance climate justice, and enable inclusive economic growth.
LOOKING AHEAD
I am deeply inspired by what we have accomplished together in the pursuit of justice, peace, and sustainable development.
Our mission — to leverage the transformative power of the rule of law to address global challenges and empower communities — remains as vital and relevant as ever.
As we prepare to embark on the next strategic cycle, we must continue to deepen our partnerships, invest in our people and systems, and mobilize political and financial support for the rule of law.
The journey ahead will be challenging, but with your continued support, I am confident that we can succeed.
Together, we can create a future where everyone can live in dignity and equality under the rule of law.
Warm regards,