Rule of Law
Rule of law means that rulers don’t rule—laws do. Rule of law is fundamental to a modern governance system.
A predictable legal system with fair, accessible, and effective judicial institutions is essential for the protection of citizens against the arbitrary use of state authority or lawless acts by others. It also supports economic growth by ensuring a reliable, stable, and predictable system of laws and regulations that can protect investments, contracts, and other business interactions.
In many developing countries, weak legal institutions and the lack of rule of law endanger development and contribute to poverty. Further, the legal exclusion of the world's poor—who have little access to legal protection of their rights or livelihoods—perpetuates poverty throughout the developing world.
CIDA’s Deployment for Democratic Development works to ensure that just laws and independent and effective legal/ judicial/enforcement institutions contribute to greater security of the individual, economic development, environmental protection, and social justice. DDD initiatives will encompass support for legal/judicial reform with a focus on institutions, including strengthening the judiciary, bar associations, and legal aid systems.
DDD rule of law initiatives aim to:
- Advance public legal education and engagement
- Promote predictable, impartial, accessible, timely, and effective legal systems
- Support independent and non-discriminatory judicial systems
- Support informal legal practices that respect human rights
Here are a few highlights from our DDD rule of law initiatives:
Armenia – Strengthening Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Policy
Bangladesh – Building an Independent and Credible Judiciary
Ethiopia – Strengthening Ethiopia’s Criminal Justice System
Jamaica - Reducing Case Backlog in Jamaica’s Criminal Courts
Tanzania - Strengthening Ethics and Conflict of Interest Legislation