Is the Rule of Law Strong Enough to Save Democracy? | #WJF2025

📉 What’s behind the global decline in the rule of law—and what can be done to stop it? At the 2025 World Justice Forum in Warsaw, this opening plenary set the stage for the days ahead by exploring the drivers of democratic backsliding, rising authoritarianism, and weakening justice systems. Drawing on global data and regional perspectives, the panelists unpacked the causes of the rule of law recession and outlined key priorities for action across sectors. Speakers: -Moderator: Margaret Satterthwaite, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers -Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer-prize winning historian -Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary General, International IDEA -Clare Ovey, Director of Human Rights, Council of Europe This session offers a wide-angle view of the political, legal, and institutional pressures eroding democratic norms—and what global leaders, human rights advocates, and justice reformers must do to confront them. About the World Justice Forum (WJF) The WJF, hosted by the World Justice Project, is a premier global event dedicated to advancing the rule of law worldwide. It brings together leaders from government, civil society, legal, and business sectors to address pressing global challenges, including access to justice, anti-corruption, human rights, and democratic governance. The Forum fosters innovative solutions and practical actions to strengthen justice systems, promote accountability, and build fairer societies. #WJF2025 #RuleOfLaw #DemocracyUnderThreat #Authoritarianism #ChecksAndBalances #HumanRights #JusticeForAll #AnneApplebaum #MargaretSatterthwaite #KevinCasasZamora #ClareOvey #InternationalIDEA #CouncilOfEurope #UN #DemocraticResilience #GlobalJustice #WorldJusticeForum #Accountability