Global Coalition Unites in Warsaw, Unveiling New Principles for Joint Action on Rule of Law

 Global Coalition Unites in Warsaw, Unveiling New Principles for Joint Action on Rule of Law 

WARSAW, Poland – June 26, 2025 – A global coalition of organizational leaders and justice advocates issued an urgent call to action today to reverse the worldwide decline in the rule of law, marked by the release of the Warsaw Principles at the conclusion of the 2025 World Justice Forum. The Warsaw Principles represent a unified front against rising authoritarian pressures and a framework for collective action to strengthen accountability. 

The announcement comes at a critical time, as the World Justice Project (WJP) reports that the rule of law has deteriorated in 77% of countries over the past decade. The Warsaw Principles create a common agenda for the diverse array of organizations working to counter this trend. 

"The Warsaw Principles are not an abstract declaration. They are a call to action," stated Alejandro Ponce, Executive Director of the World Justice Project, the Forum’s organizer. "Reversing the rule of law recession requires stronger connections, better alignment, and deeper cooperation across sectors and borders. This, in essence, is what the rule of law accountability ecosystem demands and what our shared agenda now seeks to deliver". 

The 10 Warsaw Principles call for: 

• Safeguarding institutional checks and balances
• Ensuring peaceful transfers of power
• Protecting civic space and fundamental rights
• Strengthening judicial independence
• Eliminating corruption
• Advancing people-centered justice
• Securing lawyers’ safety Integrating the rule of law in sustainability, technology, and development
• Fostering integrity in business environments
• Enabling cross-sectoral partnerships 

Leaders from prominent international organizations took the stage to endorse the principles and commit their institutions to the shared agenda. 

Find out more about the Warsaw Principles here. 

Relevant quotes from speakers reflecting on the Warsaw Principles: 

Gianluca Esposito, Director General for Human Rights and Rule of Law at the Council of Europe, said, "No one can do this alone, the need for countering and reversing the backsliding of the rule of law, democracy, and human rights in a multi-actor, multidimensional, multilevel level. We need to join forces at national and international level to make this reversal happen.” 

Aidan Eyakuze, CEO of the Open Government Partnership, commented, "For local solutions, you need to inject energy into the system in order to slow down the dissipation into disorder. And we really need to make sure we inject some energy.” 

Jimena Reyes, Director for the Americas at the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), stated, "Litigation is a strong instrument that we will continue to use while implementing the Warsaw principles." 

Udo Jude Ilo, CEO of HiiL, remarked, "When we look at problems facing the world from isolated platforms they look impossible. When we look at it as a collective, we see pathways." 

Blair Glencorse, Co-CEO of Accountability Lab, said, "Our best defense is not just technical legal expertise, it is collective courage and leaving energized. Young people must be at the center of our efforts. Not just demanding government efforts, but building it.” 

Elizabeth Andersen, Executive Director of the Basel Institute on Governance, stated, "It is important to remember that corruption is not a victimless crime." 

Sumit Bisarya, Head of Constitution Building at International IDEA, commented, "Building the rule of law, its not a house you can construct, its like a garden, we need to tend to it constantly, water the plants, prune the trees, sometimes get dirty down on our hands and knees." 

Jan Beagle, Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), said, "One of the most pressing challenges to accountability, governance, and the rule of law is the deepening crises of trust. We know that the rule of law is the immune system of democracy. We see the Warsaw principles as a timely and much needed articulation of what we must do. Our shared challenge is to turn these principles into tangible improvements in people's lives and convince them that the rule of law is not an abstraction; it's worth believing in and fighting for.” 

Andrea Rocca, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Transparency International, stated, "We all agree that it is important to fight corruption. But without collective action we cannot win the fight against corruption". 

Sirpa Rautio, Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), remarked, "I hope that we can really breathe oxygen into these 10 Warsaw principles for the rule of law and commit to work with all of you to have a better future." 

Eva Antoniou, Policy Officer, from the European Partnership for Democracy, said, "We are talking about something very powerful: the resilience of this community that refuses to accept this fate arbitrarily decided by others. The need to unite our voices is more important than ever: democratic resilience requires collective action and we are committed to doing this everyday in our work. These are not abstract ideals, they are nonnegotiable standards and they should be put into action." 

Vivek Maru, Co-founder and CEO of Namati, concluded, "Too many people today experience the law as broken. But if we know the law, we can use it, and if we use it we can fix it." 

The World Justice Project announced that the Warsaw Principles are now open for endorsement by organizations worldwide, inviting them to join the growing community committed to collaborative action. 

About the World Justice Forum: Convened by WJP and the Ministry of Justice of Poland, the World Justice Forum assembled prominent international figures to address the most pressing challenges to justice and human rights in Warsaw, Poland from June 23-26. Notable speakers include: 

• Maria Ressa: Nobel Peace Prize laureate and CEO of Rappler.
• Anne Applebaum: Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Atlantic columnist.
• Adam Bodnar: Minister of Justice of Poland. 

About the World Justice Project: The WJP is an independent, multidisciplinary organization working to create knowledge, build awareness, and stimulate action to advance the rule of law worldwide. 

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Media Contact: 
Natalia Jardon 
[email protected]