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Last month, in Mexico City’s historic center, a diverse group of state and federal officials took the stage to explore what’s working to improve the rule of law in Mexico. Addressing an audience of policymakers, donors, advocates, and business leaders, the officials discussed progress such as reduced corruption in the state of Sinaloa, safer communities in Chihuahua, greater access to justice in Querétaro, enhanced regulatory enforcement in Sonora, and improved labor protections across the country.

2024 is a pivotal year for democracy, with over 60 countries electing leaders to govern nearly half the world's population. But despite the possibility of record voter turnout, these elections are unfolding amidst a global rule of law recession that is accelerating democratic decline.

Around the world, fundamental human rights have been declining since 2016. Labor rights is the exception. 

Eight years ago, a World Justice Project poll found that an overwhelming majority of Americans–91%–believed they could vote freely without being harassed or pressured. After the 2020 election, only 58% of people still agreed. Will 2024 be different?

Two-thirds of Americans believe that the outcome of 2024 presidential election will be very or extremely important for the future of democracy.

The World Bank is among the global institutions that use data from the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index to advance their work.    We learned why in a conversation with Christopher H. Stephens, the World Bank Group’s senior vice president and general counsel.  

As we began 2024, WJP leveraged data and evidence to advance rule of law reforms and capture lessons learned.

One of the founding principles of the European Union is respect for the rule of law.  How does the European Union rank on the rule of law?  Take our quiz and find out. 

As part of a multidimensional project funded by the Canadian Embassy in Mexico, WJP has produced a new report that seeks to increase the visibility of Indigenous mediation programs. It comes as a growing number of governments, donors, and communities are embracing a paradigm shift to people-centered justice. That global movement prioritizes identifying people’s legal needs and fostering accessible solutions to address them, rather than primarily investing in established institutions that are missing the mark. 

Authoritarianism and weakened justice systems continue to erode the rule of law globally–but not universally. Taking cues from the communities resisting these trends can pave the road forward, according to the World Justice Project (WJP) Executive Director Elizabeth Andersen. On March 13, Andersen addressed judicial, legal, and academic leaders at the National Judicial Conference’s symposium on “Democracy’s Last Line of Defense: Preserving an Independent Judiciary.”     

The World Justice Project (WJP) is pleased to announce that WJP Mexico Country Office Director Alejandro González Arreola has been named the global organization’s next Chief Engagement Officer. In his new Washington-D.C.-based role, Alejandro will build, strengthen, and support WJP’s global network of rule of law stakeholders; lead global policy engagement, advocacy initiatives, and campaigns on rule of law topics; and spearhead WJP’s work to advance the rule of law through strategic convenings, including the World Justice Forum.  

The International Justice Mission (IJM) uses the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index in their work to end modern-day slavery. During the 2023 Index launch, Samson Inocencio, IJM’s regional vice president for Asia Pacific, joined other leaders to explain how. We spoke further with him to learn how the rule of law and the Index help IJM fight violence against people living in poverty. 

Thailand’s new prime minister is placing the rule of law at the center of his government’s priorities over the next four years.

In the United States, the rule of law is front and center this election year. The shadow of the last incendiary presidential election looms larger than ever, and U.S. commitment to universal rule of law principles will be tested on numerous fronts in 2024.  Learn more about five rule of law issues experts are keeping an eye on in 2024.

In 2023, our data showed the rule of law recession continues. We identified the major trends impeding just communities with the release of the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2023. Around the world, governments are expanding unchecked powers, people are losing fundamental rights, and justice systems are struggling to deliver timely, equitable justice.  Yet, progress is possible.  

“As the world marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, most countries are falling short on upholding its promise,” said Elizabeth Andersen, executive director of the World Justice Project (WJP).  At the recent launch of the 2023 WJP Rule of Law Index, Andersen explained that new Index data shows that both fundamental rights and overall rule of law have declined in more than three-quarters of countries since 2016.