Statement by the Director-General, Ms. Jan Beagle
Plenary Meeting
Seville, 2 July 2025
Excellencies,
It is a pleasure to address you today on behalf of the International Development Law Organization.
My message today is simple but urgent: we cannot finance or achieve sustainable development, or deliver on the Sevilla Commitment, without the rule of law.
Over four decades, IDLO has worked in some 100 countries to advance peace and sustainable development through justice and the rule of law.
Drawing on our experience, I want to share three reasons why the rule of law and access to justice are central to our deliberations on financing for development.
First, the rule of law can help countries attract and sustainably manage investment.
Economies thrive when the law is clear, rights are protected, and institutions are accessible and impartial.
Investors—foreign and domestic—need confidence that contracts will be enforced, disputes resolved fairly, and assets protected.
IDLO supports governments to build legal environments that inspire confidence: simplifying regulations, resolving complex disputes, and building the capacity to negotiate and implement investment agreements.
We also work with civil society and engage the private sector through innovative public-private partnerships, including international law firms, which provide support on investment-related matters to Least Developed Countries.
Secondly, the rule of law provides a framework for the integrated solutions needed to deliver the SDGs.
Financing development is not just about raising resources—it’s about using them transparently, fairly, and to maximum effect.
As countries confront new challenges—from climate change to digital transformation—they need modern legal frameworks and responsive and accountable institutions to ensure that policy ambitions translate into results.
Laws and mechanisms that resolve disputes over land tenure and water rights are essential for climate resilience.
We need regulations for digital spaces that promote innovation, while protecting rights and equal access.
The rule of law also enables governments to combat corruption and reduce illicit financial flows to increase public trust, reduce inequalities, and stimulate investment.
Third, ignoring the decline in the rule of law can wipe out development gains.
Today, over 5 billion people face unmet justice needs.
They are denied equal access to opportunity, healthcare, education, and jobs—fueling inequality and instability.
Research shows that unresolved legal issues can reduce GDP by as much as 3%. Countries that fail to invest in justice risk stalling, or reversing, progress on development.
Take gender equality.
We know that when women can access justice, claim their rights, and live free from violence, they contribute more fully to society and the economy.
In some countries, GDP could rise by as much as 35% with greater female participation.
Yet, as IDLO’s recent report with UN Women, UNDP, and other partners highlights, most countries invest far too little in justice for women.
This underinvestment undermines both justice and development.
And women’s leadership in financial and economic governance is a smart investment leading to stronger economies, better development outcomes, and climate resilience.
Excellencies,
Justice is not a luxury—it is a foundation for inclusive growth, peace, and sustainability.
The good news is that justice gaps can be closed.
People-centred rule of law solutions can bring legal services closer to communities, empower excluded groups, make development funds go further and, most importantly, rebuild trust.
IDLO looks forward to continuing to work together to build stronger foundations for financing, governance, and inclusive development—through investment in justice.