World Justice Forum Opens in Warsaw with Ambitious Agenda to Strengthen Rule of Law

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World Justice Forum Opens in Warsaw with Ambitious Agenda to Strengthen Rule of Law 

WARSAW, Poland – 23 June, 2025 – Hundreds of global leaders, jurists, and human rights champions gathered in Warsaw—a city with a profound history in the struggle for freedom—for the opening of the 2025 World Justice Forum. The summit aims to mobilize collective action against a rising tide of authoritarianism and reverse the global rule of law recession. 

Convened by the World Justice Project in partnership with the Ministry of Justice of Poland, the Forum was inaugurated by Polish Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar, World Justice Project Co-founder and Board Chair William C. Hubbard, and World Justice Project Executive Director Alejandro Ponce.

Over the next four days, participants will develop strategies to strengthen the ecosystem of institutions that ensure accountability and protect fundamental rights. It will feature keynote addresses and discussions with prominent international figures, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Atlantic columnist Anne Applebaum. 

"We meet in Warsaw because here in Poland, for eight years, we have been suffering from a rule of law crisis. We are suffering the illiberal trend—a lot of Polish judges, prosecutors, and attorneys have been subject to intimidation and undue pressure… We are doing our best to recover from this rule of law crisis.” said Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar. "But we have been able to move ahead thanks to the advice and support of transnational coalitions, and by organizations like the World Justice Project telling us to improve. Because if you are doing badly in the rule of law, you are losing chances in business and economic development." 

"According to our latest Rule of Law Index, over half of the countries we study experienced declines last year alone—and 78% of countries have seen rule of law deterioration over the past six years. These are not just data points. They are facts, facts that compel us to act.” said William C. Hubbard. "Now in its 8th edition, the World Justice Forum brings together a uniquely diverse group of stakeholders from across regions and sectors—Nobel laureates, chief justices, ministers of justice, international leaders, legal scholars, grassroots advocates, and representatives from civil society, philanthropy, and the private sector." 

"Today, we are seeing efforts to diminish the Rule of Law in so many counties. But the law must serve the people, not power. The rule of law is not an abstract principle, it is deeply human." said Alejandro Ponce. "Over the next four days, we will harness the collective expertise of hundreds of thought leaders to develop and mobilize timely, effective solutions that strengthen accountability and build a more just world." 

The World Justice Forum provides a crucial platform for diverse actors—including judiciaries, supreme audit institutions, independent media, and civil society watchdogs—to share learning, identify common objectives, and develop innovative strategies for oversight and action. 

Covering timely and strategic issues such as AI and the Rule of Law, Judicial Responses to Climate Change and the Role of Artists in Upholding Democracy, the agenda directly confronts the primary drivers of the rule of law recession, including threats to independent justice systems, the erosion of legislative and civil society checks on power, and the alarming trend of shrinking civic space worldwide. 

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]