What does the rule of law mean? That’s the question on our podcast this month, with our guest Maria McCloskey, Irish Rule of Law International’s (IRLI) Executive Director.

There is no one-agreed definition of the rule of law, but broadly it’s a set of principles upon which a foundation of a society is built and governed - politically, institutionally and legally. Some of the core elements are justice, equality and peace. For Maria: “The key principles, for me, are equality before the law, access to justice and it’s also about having an independent judiciary, and that separation of powers between legislature and the judiciary.”

Maria further discusses what the rule of law means in the context of IRLI’s programming. With an extensive access to justice programme in Malawi, serving the most vulnerable in the community and a programme in Zambia helping to tackle widespread corruption in the country, along with a pilot project improving access to justice for unrepresented accused people, Maria feels there is great interest in IRLI’s work: “Almost on a daily basis I have individuals and organisations saying, ‘Is there anything I can do?,’ so I know that the will of the people here in Ireland - North and South - is huge and growing all the time.”

Maria’s thoughts are especially interesting, given recent sweeping blows to human rights globally, particularly since U.S President Donald Trump entered his second term in office. “We can see so many countries around the world starting to take backward or retrograde steps and undoing some of those systems that have been built up since World War II. There is an element of the unravelling of the protections which is very concerning and worrying,” she says.

Maria also talks about another pilot programme IRLI has launched, in Tigray, supporting victims’ groups; ensuring their voices are heard, as part of the peace process there. She believes that academics and civil society groups in Ireland are uniquely positioned to provide expertise in the transitional justice space, given The Troubles in the North. And she talks about a recent visit to Ireland from the Ukrainian judiciary, who operate in the country despite Russia’s continued invasion.

Presented and produced by Evelyn McClafferty.

With thanks to our donors: Irish Aid.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily represent those of IRLI or Irish Aid.