24-Hour Rule of Law Webathon – 2022

The advancement of the Rule of Law at the national and international levels is essential to achieving economic growth and sustainable development. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the 2012 United Nations Declaration on the Rule of Law. Building on the Declaration, UN Member States placed the Rule of Law, justice, and human rights at the core of the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda. However, the implementation of the broadly accepted concept and definition of the Rule of Law has faced challenges in certain parts of the world. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, expanding conflicts, and escalating impacts of climate change threatening global prosperity, pose critical global challenges. To overcome those challenges, we need to advance universal adherence to the Rule of Law. An international expert panel will discuss current challenges to the Rule of Law, the differing perspectives, how failure to adhere to the universal principles of the Declaration impedes economic growth and sustainable development, and how societies are strongest when development is anchored in democracy, justice, human rights, and the Rule of Law.

The panel will address the UN principles on Business and Human Rights, self-regulation policies and national plans, and the transition to due diligence legislation and the challenges on the implementation of the principles and the new legislation, compliance and enforcement issues, as well as the importance of a joint effort from both public sector and private sector in advancing those principles.