World Justice Forum IV Concludes with Record Results; Launch of New Initiatives to Advance Rule of Law Worldwide

At the largest World Justice Forum to date, more than 550 innovators and dignitaries from over 100 countries discussed strategies to advance the rule of law worldwide. The event concluded with the launch of 48 new initiatives.

The World Justice Forum concluded its fourth and largest global gathering on Thursday, where more than 550 global luminaries, an array of supreme court justices, business and nonprofit leaders, social entrepreneurs, development practitioners, journalists, military leaders, and legal experts from more than 100 countries addressed critical rule of law issues related to economic development, technology, supply chains, women’s rights, freedom of expression, and more. 

At the Forum’s closing session, participants unveiled 48 initiatives aimed at strengthening the rule of law. The initiatives were created through special “justice incubator” sessions held throughout the week. Initiatives announced included a mobile app tool for human trafficking victims and witnesses; a global initiative for safeguarding small holder farmers’ tenure and livelihood by providing access to outgrowing arrangements in Burma; and a digital platform where post-conflict survivors, witnesses, and other conflict participants can create a record of truth, and build an online community. Additional information about these initiatives will be posted to the WJP blog in the coming weeks.

During the three-day conference, participants heard from a range of diverse speakers including United States Supreme Court Justices Anthony Kennedy and Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Deputy Speaker of the Tunisian National Assembly Meherzia Labidi Maïza; Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba; Founder & Executive Director of the Afghan Institute of Learning Sakena Yakoobi; and more.

On Thursday, the WJP awarded the prestigious Rule of Law Award to Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Iranian lawyer, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Founder & President of Defenders of Human Rights Center for her efforts to advance democracy and human rights, particularly for women, girls, and refugees; and BRAC (formerly the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee), a global leader in creating opportunity for the world’s poor. The award recognizes revolutionary achievements by individuals or organizations to advance the rule of law in some of the most vulnerable communities worldwide.

The event was dedicated to Nelson Mandela, described by William Neukom, WJP founder and CEO:  “Once a survivor, then a champion, and now a beacon for the rule of law.”

In the final session of the week, World Justice Project board member Mondli Makhanya led a closing resolution by participants to advance home-grown cultures of the rule of law (the resolution can be viewed here: http://worldjusticeproject.org/closing-declaration).

To review the full agenda, access speaker biographies, read blog posts and access event photographs, please visit www.worldjusticeproject.org. Follow us on Twitter @TheWJP and on Facebook for meeting news and highlights. The event hashtag is #WJForum.