Fiji to Host Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting in February 2026

Fiji will host the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting from 9 to 12 February 2026 in Nadi, bringing together about 150 delegates from the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries.

The meeting is expected to attract Attorneys General, Ministers of Justice, Solicitors General, and other senior legal officials. Discussions will focus on how strong legal safeguards protect everyday life, from citizens’ participation in democratic processes and access to fair livelihoods, to their right to live in safe and healthy communities.

Ministers are also expected to agree on practical measures to advance the rule of law by improving access to justice and strengthening legal institutions that underpin stable societies, fair economies, and environmental protection.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon. Shirley Botchwey thanked the Government of Fiji for hosting the meeting, noting that the rule of law remains critical to peace, stability, and development, despite increasing pressure in many parts of the world.

“The rule of law remains essential to peace, stability, and development, yet it is under serious pressure in many parts of the world,” she said. “Where it is weakened or unevenly applied, the impact is felt most sharply by ordinary people.”

She added that the rule of law is a cornerstone of the Commonwealth Charter and requires practical commitment and cooperation rather than rhetoric.

“In Fiji, our Ministers will come together to strengthen the rule of law as the foundation of a resilient future, one in which every person has a voice in democracy, every worker is treated with dignity, and every vulnerable community is protected from a changing climate,” Botchwey said. “By working together, we can uphold the rule of law as an essential protection for the people of the Commonwealth.”

The meeting will be chaired by Fiji’s Minister for Justice and Acting Attorney-General, Hon. Siromi Turaga, under the theme ‘Anchoring Justice in a Changing Tide: Strengthening the Rule of Law for a Resilient Future’.

Hon. Turaga said Fiji looks forward to exploring how the Commonwealth Vuvale (family) can strengthen the rule of law by ensuring justice systems remain flexible, inclusive, and responsive.

“Together, we will also consider the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change, digital transformation, and regional cooperation, so that our legal systems remain resilient for generations to come,” he said.

The meeting will also feature five side events, bringing together youth leaders, individuals with lived experience of the justice system, and disability rights advocates, to ensure their perspectives inform ministerial discussions.

Outcomes from the meeting are expected to help shape the agenda for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), scheduled to take place later this year in Antigua and Barbuda.