PEACE
Salzburg Statement on The Rule of Law The rule of law is not sustained by courts, governments, or lawyers alone. All members of society have a role to play in respecting, protecting, and promoting it in their communities and beyond. It depends on citizens, institutions, communities, businesses, civil society, and public officials who insist that rules be public, fairly applied, and capable of holding power to account. In June 2026, the Salzburg Global Cutler Center for
These commitments must move from aspiration into daily
the Rule of Law, in partnership with the International
practice - in our personal lives, professional settings, public
Bar Association, convened the second cohort of
debate, and institutional work. Each of us has the capacity
the International Law Fellows Network in Salzburg,
to make the rule of law more visible, understandable,
Austria. Over the course of several days, we, a cohort
and resilient. By doing so, we help preserve the trust on
of rising leaders in international law, considered our
which fair societies and effective international cooperation
responsibility in addressing a fundamental question
depend.
of our time: how to safeguard the rule of law as a core principle of free, fair, and just societies.
These commitments may mean demanding transparency when a local authority makes decisions about planning or
This Salzburg Statement reaffirms the definition of
public spending. They may mean correcting misinformation
the rule of law set forth by our predecessors in The
about courts or legal processes publicized by bad actors.
Salzburg Statement on the Critical Role of Lawyers
Or they may mean holding a public body to its own
in Safeguarding the Rule of Law, published in 2025.
published rules – and challenging it when those rules are
Building on this work, we emphasize three critical
quietly set aside.
components of that definition that are under strain today: publicly promulgated laws, equal application and enforcement, and independent adjudication.
The Commitment of the Salzburg Global International Law Fellows
As Salzburg Global Fellows, we invite lawyers and
While these responsibilities belong to all, they carry
non-lawyers alike to share the responsibility of
distinct professional and ethical weight for lawyers and
sustaining the rule of law by joining us in a collective
legal professionals. We advise clients, shape institutions,
commitment to:
interpret obligations, draft rules, litigate claims, and teach
1. 2.
Promote understanding and education about
future lawyers. We help determine whether law restrains
the rule of law
power or becomes its instrument.
Engage in the public arena and with diverse
communities
That role requires ethical courage. It requires us to
3.
Use your voice to advocate for the rule of law
guide clients to honor the rule of law and the principles
4.
Protect and foster just and transparent public
underpinning it; to reflect regularly on whether our work
institutions 5.
is consistent with our professional obligations, ethical
Support the development of the rule of law,
responsibilities, and stated commitment to the rule of law;
even when the path is long and uneven.
and to protect spaces for constructive dissent and ethical accountability when legal, governmental, academic, or corporate practice risks undermining the rule of law. As Salzburg Global Fellows, we commit ourselves to
Find out more about the Salzburg
exercising this responsibility. Building on the shared
Global session on "The Future of the
commitments above, we urge our peers and colleagues
Rule of the Law in a Fractured World.”
in the legal field to join us in the following:
1 Promote understanding and education about the rule of law.
4 Protect and foster just and transparent public institutions.
• Stay informed about legal developments, emerging
• Defend the independence, impartiality, and integrity
risks, international obligations, and threats to the
of courts, judges, lawyers, and other institutions
rule-of-law challenges at home and internationally.
essential to the rule of law.
• Support rule-of-law education in law schools, bar
• Oppose improper internal and external interference
associations (like IBA's Rule of Law video series),
with those institutions, regardless of whether
professional organizations, and local communities.
particular legal outcomes align with personal, political, or professional interests.
• Use plain and accessible language to explain legal concepts, democratic governance, and why the rule of law matters.
• Use appropriate professional, institutional, and legal means to hold public institutions accountable when they disregard the rule of law.
2 Engage in the public arena and with diverse communities.
5 Support the development of the rule of law, even when the path is long and uneven.
• Speak up when the rule of law is threatened. Use the credibility and influence of the legal profession
• Recognize that countries and legal systems begin
to raise awareness of threats when the rule of law is
from different historical and institutional positions
threatened and of practical reforms when possible.
and face different challenges in strengthening the rule of law.
• Foster inclusive, honest, and informed discussion about how the global legal order is changing and
• Highlight achievements, success stories, practical
what this means for society and people’s lives.
solutions, and incremental progress alongside challenges and risks.
• Build networks across borders and across diverse professional communities with others who share a commitment to the rule of law.
• Build public confidence by showing that the rule of law is not only a constraint on power but a shared civic project that can improve lives.
3 Use our voices to advocate for the rule of law. • Foster cross-border cooperation and mutual
Call to Action
learning. Respect differences without abandoning shared principles.
We make this commitment as International Law Fellows, but we do not make it alone. We call on lawyers
• Make the case to the public for reforms and
and legal professionals around the world to join us: to
initiatives that strengthen the rule of law.
explain the rule of law clearly, defend it courageously, practice it ethically, and help rebuild public confidence
• Promote a constructive, forward-looking narrative
in the idea that rules can and must apply equally to all.
focused on shared aspirations, resilience, and continuous improvement.
This Statement reflects a consensus among Salzburg Global Fellows who attended the Salzburg Global
• Hold the line when our employers, institutions,
International Law Fellows Network session on "The Future
or work environments retreat from rule-of-law
of the Rule of the Law in a Fractured World" in June 2026.
principles. • Refuse to use legal expertise to help public or private actors evade accountability, hollow out legal institutions, or turn legal form into a shield for
In partnership with with support from
abuses of power. The views expressed here are those of the individual Fellows and should not be taken to represent those of any organizations with which they are affiliated.