The European Partnership for Democracy joined a global coalition of organisational leaders and justice advocates in an urgent call to action to reverse the worldwide decline in the Rule of Law, marked by the release of the Warsaw Principles at the conclusion of the 2025 World Justice Forum in Warsaw on 26 June. The Forum reunited prominent international figures to address the most pressing challenges to justice and human rights. The Warsaw Principles represent a unified front against rising authoritarian pressures and a framework for collective action to strengthen accountability.
The announcement comes at a critical time, as the World Justice Project (WJP) reports that the Rule of Law has deteriorated in 77% of countries over the past decade. The Warsaw Principles create a common agenda for the diverse array of organisations working to counter this trend.
“The Warsaw Principles are not an abstract declaration. They are a call to action,” stated Alejandro Ponce, Executive Director of the World Justice Project, the Forum’s organiser. “Reversing the Rule of Law recession requires stronger connections, better alignment, and deeper cooperation across sectors and borders. This, in essence, is what the rule of law accountability ecosystem demands and what our shared agenda now seeks to deliver”.
The 10 Warsaw Principles call for:
- Safeguarding institutional checks and balances
- Ensuring peaceful transfers of power
- Protecting civic space and fundamental rights
- Strengthening judicial independence
- Eliminating corruption
- Advancing people-centered justice
- Securing lawyers’ safety
- Integrating the Rule of Law in sustainability, technology, and development
- Fostering integrity in business environments
- Enabling cross-sectoral partnerships
Find out more about the Warsaw Principles here.
The World Justice Project announced that the Warsaw Principles are now open for endorsement by organisations worldwide, inviting them to join the growing community committed to collaborative action.
