Rule of Law Fails to Deliver: 64 Countries Show Significant Gap

A significant gap exists between the commitment to the rule of law and its implementation across 64 countries, according to a survey conducted by the International Bar Association (IBA). The survey, which gathered responses from 326 legal professionals between August and December 2025, found that while respondents gave high importance scores to rule of law principles, the implementation of these principles was lacking.

The survey's findings show that respondents gave mean importance scores of between 9.2 and 9.7 out of 10 for rule of law principles, indicating a strong commitment to these principles. However, the mean implementation scores were significantly lower, ranging from 6.2 to 6.8 out of 10. This disparity suggests that while legal professionals recognize the importance of the rule of law, its implementation is not meeting expectations.

One area of particular concern is access to justice, with 83% of respondents considering access to justice before independent and impartial courts to be extremely important. However, only 43% of respondents considered access to justice to be well implemented in their jurisdiction. This highlights a significant gap between the ideal and the reality of access to justice.

The survey's findings are consistent with the World Justice Project's 2025 Rule of Law Index, which reported a decline in the rule of law in 68% of countries worldwide between 2024 and 2025. This decline has resulted in the deterioration of justice and freedom for billions of people, making the implementation of rule of law principles a pressing concern.

## Why it matters The rule of law is essential for ensuring justice, freedom, and equality for all individuals. The significant gap between the commitment to the rule of law and its implementation has serious consequences, including the erosion of trust in institutions and the perpetuation of inequality. The findings of the IBA survey and the World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index highlight the need for urgent action to address the decline in the rule of law and ensure that its principles are implemented effectively.

The survey was led by Tahera Mandviwala, member of the IBA Rule of Law Forum's advisory board, and the report was published on September 16, 2026. The findings of the survey provide a stark reminder of the challenges facing the implementation of the rule of law and the need for continued efforts to promote and protect this fundamental principle.