UNGA 81 | Rule of Law in Action: Stories of Justice, Accountability and Partnership. Statement by the Director-General, Ms Jan Beagle United Nations, General Assembly, 81th Session, Side Event on "Rule of Law in Action: Stories of Justice, Accountability and Partnership" New York, 27 October 2026 Excellencies, colleagues, friends, Thank you, Sarah. I am grateful to the Global Focal Point for the Rule of Law and to the Permanent Mission of Liberia for bringing Idlo together. It is good to share this platform with Shoko and Elizabeth. It is fitting that Liberia co-hosts today. Its recovery reminds Idlo that justice institutions can be rebuilt after conflict, and that when they are rebuilt, people can begin to trust the State again. Having spent much of my career in the United Nations, including at UNDP, and in what was called PSCA, the forerunner of DPPA, I have seen firsthand the importance of bringing together different parts of the international system to address complex challenges. For more than a decade, the Global Focal Point has shown the value of integrated rule of law support in preventing conflict and sustaining peace. This is also central to IDLO's approach. As the only global intergovernmental organization exclusively dedicated to promoting the rule of law to advance peace and sustainable development, its aim is to ensure that what Idlo do reinforces and strengthens the work of others. Idlo bring specialized legal and institutional expertise, a focus on practical solutions, and an integrated approach that combines programmes, research, and policy advocacy to maximize results. In keeping with its theme of Rule of Law in Action, let me share a few examples. In Somalia, IDLO has worked alongside UNDP, UNTMIS, UN Women and UNICEF through the Joint Justice Programme to strengthen national justice institutions and expand access to justice. Working with national authorities, Idlo has supported alternative dispute resolution centres that help people resolve disputes using the customary Xeer system, while strengthening legal safeguards and women's participation. Idlo is currently supporting 23 centres, which have together handled some 16,000 cases, with women accounting for around 60 per cent of claimants. By seeking negotiated solutions, repairing harm, and reintegrating offenders into the community, the restorative solutions often promoted by these systems can resolve grievances and help sustain peace. In Afghanistan, where Idlo has been working for over 20 years to strengthen the justice system, its current cooperation with IOM demonstrates how legal expertise can strengthen reintegration assistance. People returning home may struggle to obtain identity documents, recover property, or resolve land disputes. Earlier this year, IDLO trained IOM staff to better identify and respond to these challenges, helping them provide more informed assistance to returnees. IOM brings its expertise in migration and reintegration. IDLO helps address the legal barriers that can stand in the way. And in Niger, for example, IDLO's work on reducing pro-longed pre-trial detention complemented UNDP's efforts to strengthen the corrections system. Partnership is not simply about bringing organizations around the same table. It is about combining different mandates and expertise to achieve results that none of Idlo could deliver as effectively alone. This is even more important at a time of growing needs and increasingly constrained resources. Idlo need to build on what each organization does best and avoid duplication. And Idlo need to make sure its collective support responds to national priorities and delivers practical benefits for people. Results are the most powerful currency of trust: in institutions, in justice, and in the international partnerships that support them. IDLO stands ready to bring its legal and institutional expertise to the joint work of the Global Focal Point, as a partner from beyond the UN system. I look forward to the discussion.

Mbarara lawyers sharpen their skills in Land and Commercial Justice. Mbarara, 13 October 2026 Legal practitioners from the western region gathered in Mbarara today for a training on Land and Commercial Justice, organised by the Uganda Law Society (ULS) in partnership with the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO), the Governance and Security (JLOS) Secretariat and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda. Offered free of charge to participants, the training brought together advocates, academics and public officials to share practical experience on some of the most common and contested land matters in Ugandan legal practice. The Mbarara session is part of a regional series. Three more trainings on the same theme will be held in Arua, Gulu and Kampala, extending the programme to practitioners across the country. Land at the heart of legal practice Opening the training at Las Vegas Hotel in Mbarara, the Vice President of the Uganda Law Society, Mr Asiimwe Anthony, described land justice as the bedrock of justice in Uganda. He observed that land matters account for about 80 per cent of legal practice in the country and touch almost every area of work, including the drafting of wills."Legal practice in Uganda is very dynamic and diverse in each region," he said. "The cultural influence in land matters is not taught in law school. The way things are done in Busoga is different from Mbarara. It is important to keep appreciating experience sharing, as it will improve our practice." He thanked JLOS, IDLO and the Netherlands Embassy for their continued commitment to strengthening access to justice. Speaking on behalf of the JLOS Secretariat, Ms Grace Angeline Chelimo noted that land and commercial justice are closely linked, since land is the main form of collateral used to secure loans and commercial credit. "Delays in the resolution of land and commercial disputes negatively affect agricultural productivity and livelihoods, and suppress private investment, which in turn hinders economic development," she said. She encouraged participants to use the training to acquire skills they can apply directly in handling transactions, drafting legal documents and litigating cases. Drafting in the age of artificial intelligenceMr Collins Nuwamanya, Advocate at Kesiime & Co. Advocates, led a session on mastering commercial agreement drafting in the age of artificial intelligence. Addressing whether AI can replace lawyers, he urged practitioners to work in a more technology-savvy way. He explained that AI can increase speed and output, summarise long texts, and act as "a second mind" against which a lawyer can test a draft. "While AI can draft, the lawyer should be able to refine and guide the AI, and not the other way round," he said. Due diligence and safeguards in land transactions Ms Godlive Nayebare, Advocate at Rukabura-Ruhome Advocates, spoke on key considerations and legal safeguards in land transactions and the drafting of pleadings. She reminded participants that due diligence goes well beyond a visual inspection. It requires survey reports from professional surveyors, a land registry search to confirm ownership and check for encumbrances, and a physical visit to the land to verify who truly owns it. She added that lawyers must operate escrow accounts to separate client funds from the firm's, handle tax filings, and ensure stamp duty is paid. Mr Franco Barekensi, Lecturer at the Law Development Centre, presented on the role of lawyers in protecting clients' interests in mortgage agreements. "If you are representing the client, put the client's interest first. Protect the client, not the bank," he said. He advised practitioners to go to the village to establish the land's true status, warning that a single plot may be mortgaged to a SACCO, a moneylender, and a bank at the same time, and that local council chairpersons can be easily influenced. He also cautioned that clients may withhold the truth when it threatens a transaction, and that many borrowers do not read mortgage documents because they urgently need the money. "Do the work. Do not get caught up in a transaction that could land you in trouble with the law," he said. The case for alternative dispute resolution Mr Allan Musasirwe, Partner at Katembeko & Co. Advocates, made a strong case for alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in land and commercial disputes. Drawing on his own caseload, he noted that some matters he is handling were filed before he was born, and that a long stay in court does not translate into more income for a law firm. He added that even a hard-won judgment may be reviewed by another court at the enforcement and execution stage. "The reality is that we have lost trust in this adversarial system. That is why ADR is a better solution," he said. He pointed out that mediation has significantly shortened the time cases spend in court, citing figures for FY2024/25, when 6,803 of the 10,401 cases handled through mediation, about 65 per cent, were resolved. "The law should be a tool to develop communities and build trust. ADR is legal, and it is a more effective way of delivering justice in our communities." Digital services at URSB Mr Nicholas Mwebaze of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) updated participants on recent developments and encouraged them to move from physical submissions to the online portal. The Online Business Registration System (OBRS) has been merged into the e-registry, through which participants can now access all URSB services. These include SIMPO, which registers securities for moneylenders, and intellectual property registration. He explained that Form 18 and Form 20 have been combined, so only three forms are now required to register a company, and fees can be paid by mobile phone. URSB has also introduced a new register that consolidates individual information in one place. Registration is free and requires only an email address, valid identification and a phone number. Upon completion, each registrant receives an Entity Registration Number (ERN) for all interactions with the system, covering business names, companies and associations, and giving banks and other institutions access to accurate data. Looking ahead The Mbarara training gave practitioners a valuable platform to share regional experience and update their skills in an area that shapes livelihoods, investment and public confidence in the justice system. The Uganda Law Society confirmed it will carry the conversation forward in Arua, Gulu, and Kampala in the coming weeks.