Effective, accountable justice systems are critical to promoting peace, democracy, and reconciliation, with the ultimate goal of preventing human rights violations and upholding rule of law. Rule of law is the principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced.
Governments diligently and fairly ensure human rights by enabling equal participation for all and protecting against individual persecution based on sex, ethnicity, religious beliefs, or political affiliations. Abusive, authoritarian regimes are supplanted by democratic institutions that empower all citizens and maintain rule of law.